American scientists at Vertex Pharmaceuticals have developed a new treatment called VX-880 for type 1 diabetes that does not require traditional transplantation of islet cells from a donor. The treatment uses human embryonic stem cells that are transformed in the laboratory into functional beta cells capable of producing insulin. One trial showed that using VX-880 reduced participants' daily insulin dosage by 91%.
Russian doctor Erdem Dashenimaev pointed out that the new cells may be subjected to the same immune attack that targeted the patient’s original beta cells, so patients need to take immunosuppressant drugs after receiving treatment, which increases the risk of infection and may cause side effects including impaired kidney function, high blood pressure, and other metabolic complications.
Dashenimaev explained that this treatment may be justified for those with severe and unstable type 1 diabetes, particularly those who suffer from a loss of sensation to low blood sugar levels, or patients unable to control their glucose levels even with the use of insulin pumps and continuous monitoring systems.
The VX-880 is unlikely to be used in newly diagnosed patients or children until long-term safety data are available. Developers and clinicians are currently focusing on patients whose risk of severe diabetic complications significantly outweighs the risks of the treatment itself.
