JDRF, ViaCyte investigate beta cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes

Viacyte, Inc., in collaboration with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, has filed an application with the FDA for an Investigational New Drug that will treat type 1 diabetes.

The drug, an experimental cell replacement therapy called Encaptra (Viacyte, Inc.), is a beta cell encapsulation therapy method to ease and reduce daily disease maintenance.

“We are excited to continue our collaboration with ViaCyte and believe beta cell encapsulation therapy may one day virtually eliminate the daily management burden for those living with type 1 diabetes,” Jeffrey Brewer, JDRF president and CEO, said in a press release.

In beta cell encapsulation therapy, healthy insulin-secreting cells contained by a protective barrier are implanted into the body of a patient with type 1 diabetes, according to the press release. The healthy cells will become incorporated into the patient’s body and secrete insulin as needed by the same mechanism that glucose is controlled in people without diabetes.

A crucial part of the technology is the barrier that protects the implanted cell from the human body’s autoimmune response, the same response that is the cause of type 1 diabetes, JDRF said in the press release.

“The ability to encapsulate and thereby protect implanted insulin-producing cells has been a focus for JDRF, and a product candidate like VC-01 could potentially play a key role in helping us achieve our vision of creating a world without type 1 diabetes,” Brewer said.

For more information, read the press release from JDRF at jdrf.org.