First patient in Type 1 diabetes clinical trial

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There’s good news for a company and a therapeutic approach CIRM has supported for many years.

ViaCyte’s approach to T1D

In September 2018, CRISPR Therapeutics and ViaCyte partnered. Together, they aim to develop gene‑edited, stem‑cell‑derived therapies for type 1 diabetes. Now, they may be one step closer.

Last week, the companies jointly announced they had dosed the first participant in the Phase 1 clinical trial of VCTX210. It is an investigational stem‑cell‑based therapy. VCTX210 combines CRISPR’s gene‑editing technology with ViaCyte’s stem cell platform to generate pancreatic beta cells that can evade the immune system.

ViaCyte—long supported by CIRM—has also developed an implantable device containing pancreatic endoderm cells that mature into insulin‑producing islet cells, the very cells destroyed in T1D.

ViaCyte’s implantable stem cell pouch

Gene editing

Using CRISPR technology, researchers genetically modify the implanted cells to create beta cells that evade immune detection. This collaboration aims to eliminate the need for patients to take daily immunosuppressants to protect the transplanted cells.

The first phase of the VCTX210 clinical trial will assess safety, tolerability, and immune evasion in patients with type 1 diabetes.

“We are excited to work with CRISPR Therapeutics and ViaCyte on this historic, first‑in‑human transplant of gene‑edited, stem‑cell‑derived pancreatic cells designed to eliminate the need for immune suppression,” said James Shapiro, a clinical investigator. “If successful, this approach could be transformative for patients with all insulin‑requiring forms of diabetes.”

CIRM has been a major supporter of ViaCyte’s work, investing more than $72 million through nine awards.  

Type 1 diabetes therapy gets go-ahead for clinical trial

Diabetes stem cell therapy moving toward clinical trial

Getting under the skin of people with type 1 diabetes

4 thoughts on “First patient in Type 1 diabetes clinical trial”

  1. Hi,

    Would you please tell me how I can apply for the clinical trial of VCTX210 for the treatment of T1D? I am 57 and have been a Type I diabetic for 22 years. Thank you!

    Sincerely,
    Mina

    Reply

    • Thanks for reaching out to us Mina. I can only imagine how challenging it must be to manage type 1 diabetes for that many years. The trial in question is taking place in Canada but here’s a link to the page on the http://www.clinicaltrials.gov website – that’s a list of all the trials registered with the National Institutes of Health – and this has all the information about the trial, how to determine if you are eligible to apply and contact information on how to apply. I hope this helps. Good luck.
      https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05210530

      Reply

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