According to researchers in the UK people who suffer with type 1 diabetes could soon be free from requiring frequent insulin injections after they claim they have developed a revolutionary treatment that could eradicate the need for injections.
The new treatment developed by Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, a London-based not-for-profit organisation, and Aberdeen University could produce insulin in a diabetes patient through transplanting lab grown Islets which are essentially organoids directly into their pancreatic tissue.
As it currently stands only 30-50 people currently receive an islet transplant each year, due to the fact their are a small number of donors available.
According to Keith Thompson the chief executive of CGT Growing lab grown islets will “significantly increase the number of patients who can receive the treatment.”
If the upcoming clinical trials are successful, the technology means tens of thousands more people could live without the need for frequent insulin injections.
Meanwhile Prof Kevin Docherty, from Aberdeen University, said: “Donated islets are already effectively treating severe cases of type 1 diabetes. Having a hugely expanded supply of lab-grown islets will enable us to significantly extend this established clinical treatment.”
CGT was set up in 2012 and is based on the 12th floor of Guy’s hospital in London. It employs more than 100 people and has government backing through Innovate UK but also gets private funding through partnerships. It is building a £55m cell therapy manufacturing centre in Stevenage. Islexa will use CGT’s labs at Guy’s and facilities at Aberdeen University.