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Home > News & events > News > Six-month clinical data shows engineered islets can exist without immunosuppression
The transplant in this study was of islets from a donor pancreas that were modified in a laboratory prior to transplantation. Islets are clusters of cells found in the pancreas. This is where insulin-producing beta cells are located, which are destroyed in T1D. Researchers at Sana have been working on a way to modify the genes of islets from organ donors so they can be implanted into a person with T1D without their immune system rejecting them.
The method they used is called hypoimmune (HIP) technology. The modified islet cells were implanted into the arm of the trial participant.
The study showed that over six months the islets survived, and the beta cells continued to function. This is measured using a biomarker called C-peptide. C-peptide is released by the body when insulin is released, meaning it is a useful indicator of insulin production. A variety of other methods were used to monitor the effectiveness of the islets in releasing insulin before and after meals, and the effectiveness of the transplant site.
These results show that in one person, the HIP modified islets have successfully evaded immune destruction, which demonstrates that, islet transplantation without the need for immunosuppression may be possible for people with T1D.
The HIP technology has only been trialled on one person so far. It must now be tested on multiple people to continue testing the safety and efficacy of the treatment.
Sana will also begin testing pluripotent stem cells, which are stem cells, taken from donors or grown in a lab, that can change into islets. This would open the research up as currently, only donor islets are being used. If stem cells are used, there is potential for this technology to help more people.
At Breakthrough T1D, we are proud to have supported this promising research by investing in Sana Biotechnology through the T1D Fund. Their innovative HIP engineering technology holds great potential for developing stem cell-based treatments that do not require broad immunosuppressive drugs. We look forward to seeing the continued progress of Sana’s studies.
Rachel Connor, Director of Research Partnerships, says: “These results are exciting for people with T1D, and along with other results presented at the ADA conference, show just how much progress is being made toward cell-based cures for T1D. This research offers a vision of a future where people affected by this condition can live without the need for insulin therapy or immunosuppression. At Breakthrough T1D, we are proud to be supporting exciting developments like this, and driving forward in our mission of delivering cures for T1D.”
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