New Drug Slowed Type 1 Diabetes Development During Study
A small Swedish study focusing on how to slow the development of type 1 diabetes had, according to the researchers, some “extremely exciting” results.
The investigators found that a drug called GAD-alum helped people recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes sustain insulin production. Though there were only six participants in the study, professor and lead researcher Johnny Ludvigsson considers the results very promising.
“Type 1 diabetes usually progresses gradually as the patient loses the ability to produce insulin, but this has not happened in these patients,” said Ludvigsson. “We must follow them for a longer period and we must include more patients before we can say anything about the effectiveness of the treatment, but the results so far are extremely exciting.”
The researchers’ intent was to reduce the immune system’s attacks on insulin-producing cells. Such attacks frequently increase the presence of antibodies targeting the body’s proteins, such as GAD65, in beta cells. The GAD-alum drug given to the participants was based on GAD65, with an expectation it might help the subjects’ immune systems better tolerate the protein.
Each participant was between 20 and 22 years old, and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes six months prior to the study. All six subjects received GAD-alum injections, plus vitamin D supplements to lower their immune system’s inflammatory response. The final study measurements indicated each participant’s level of natural insulin production had remained stable.
“If these results are confirmed when we test more patients, it would be an extremely important advance,” says Ludvigsson. “Even if it helps only half of patients, this would be a major step forward.”
The researchers are currently planning to include some individuals under 20 years of age in their study.
Source: Diabetes UK
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