Living Cell Technologies Gets JDRF Grant For Diabecell Clinical Trial

DiabeCell is Living Cell Technologies’ treatment designed to normalise the lives of people with insulin-dependent diabetes. DiabeCell comprises encapsulated porcine insulin-producing cells (islets) that are implanted into the abdomen of patients using a simple laparoscopic procedure, and work by self-regulating and secreting insulin in the patient’s body.

LCT said that the first four patients have already received implants and early observations show clinical benefit without remarkable adverse events to date. The Data Safety Monitoring Board has approved proceeding with implants of a higher dose for the next four patients.

LCT said that the JDRF grant is expected to contribute to the second portion of the Phase II trial, which will test the safety and efficacy of DiabeCell given in higher amounts in patients with type 1 diabetes.

The collaboration with JDRF and LCT for the Phase II trial of DiabeCell is part of JDRF’s Industry and Discovery and Development Partnership program through which JDRF partners with pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device businesses that seek to develop drugs, treatments, technologies, and other therapeutics leading to a cure, reversal, or prevention of type 1 diabetes and its complications.

JRDF claimed that to date, it has made 27 industry grant awards to support a variety of strategic type 1 diabetes research projects since the IDDP program was established in 2004.