3 ms·

10 out of 12 people cured in Type 1 Diabetes Study

85 points by gametorch 1y ago

bix6 1y ago
There are better options in development. Immunosuppressants are not something that most T1Ds I know are willing to take.
gnabgib 1y ago
Article title: Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islets for Type 1 Diabetes n=14, 2 died during the study, 10 had insulin independence (the paper does not say cured). Funding conflict: Funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (the makers of the cell–derived islet-cell therapy)
- andyfleming 1y ago
  > Two deaths occurred — one caused by cryptococcal meningitis and one by severe dementia with agitation owing to the progression of preexisting neurocognitive impairment.
mikequinlan 1y ago
Yes, cured but… >But patients in the trial had to stay on drugs to prevent the immune system from destroying the new cells. Suppressing the immune system, he said, increases the risk of infections and, over the long term, can increase the risk of cancer. >“The argument is this immunosuppression is not as dangerous as what we typically use for kidneys, hearts and lungs, but we won’t know that definitely for many years,” Dr. Hirsch said. >Patients may have to take the immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, the Vertex spokeswoman said. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/health/diabetes-cure-insulin-stem-cell.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RE8.daGe.6yc6DFIk97aA&smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/health/diabetes-cure-insu...
- gsf_emergency_2 1y ago
  >allogeneic The hope is that patient-derived cells will eventually be possible (whether the margins are attractive or not)
- etaioinshrdlu 1y ago
  And one of the patients in the study died of meningitis...
- ink_13 1y ago
  I'm not diabetic, but the trading "existing Type-1 management" for "lifelong immunosuppression" seems bananas. Usually the alternative to immunosuppression is "dying", not "manually and/or pump administered insulin".
  - aaron695 1y ago
    [dead]
  - nmehner 1y ago
    As written above: This might be different for people with dementia or other issues that are not in a mental state to manage their diabetes. From what I understand from the study the aim is to show that mass producing islet cells from stem cells is possible. Previously those where extracted from pancreases from dead people. Having cells extracted from your own body has the advantage that there are a lot of they are not rejected by the immune system. The reason the immune suppression is still needed is the cause of type 1 diabetes: It is a auto immune disease where the body attacks its own islet cells. But this a specific immune reaction which could be easier to prevent than the generic rejection of cells from a different body. But this is not what this approach is trying to do for now. This study just wants to show: This approach of creating islet cells work and it is worth trying to do a bigger more expensive study that can produce statistically relevant results. "Curing" type 1 diabetis is still years off and that requires the immune issue to be solved as well.
    - jmye 1y ago
      > This study just wants to show: This approach of creating islet cells work and it is worth trying to do a bigger more expensive study that can produce statistically relevant results. It is incredible to me what a hard time people are having understanding this extremely obvious fact. Knowing this is a possible path to a cure, even if it’s currently undesirable for the majority of patients, is an important step.
reify 1y ago
[flagged]
- andyfleming 1y ago
  If the islet cells persist then it's effectively cured. If new cells have to be injected regularly it's still likely to be a very effective treatment.
  - spacedcowboy 1y ago
    Perhaps, but generally we hope the cure to be better than the affliction. Type 1 is fairly easily managed with insulin pumps and CGM for a closed loop system that almost approximates a functional pancreas. Taking immuno-suppressants, which often have painful or nauseous side-effects, as well as the elevated health risks of reducing your immune system doesn’t sound like it’s an actual improvement - at least IMHO.
KnuthIsGod 1y ago
Funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the company that is trying to sell this treatment... Vertex Pharmaceuticals early investors stand to benefit. Patients not so much... "Two deaths occurred — one caused by cryptococcal meningitis and one by severe dementia with agitation" "Neutropenia was the most common serious adverse event, occurring in 3 participants. " So two of 12 died.. Another three has significant neutropenia. Vertex have a bit of a track record: https://www.biospace.com/policy/hhs-says-vertex-is-grasping-at-straws-with-casgevy-fertility-suit#:~:text=Vertex%20sued%20the%20HHS%20in,bone%20marrow%20of%20stem%20cells. https://www.biospace.com/policy/hhs-says-vertex-is-grasping-... "Along with its gene editing therapy Casgevy, Vertex is offering fertility preservation support for its patients—a program that the HHS claims violates anti-kickback statutes." "Vertex sued the HHS in July 2024 after the department's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) decided not to issue a favorable opinion on the company's fertility support for Casgevy patients. "
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- tiahura 1y ago
  How did someone with severe preexisting dementia consent and get approved for the study?
  - KnuthIsGod 1y ago
    1. It was a preexisting neurodegenerative condition that may have been worsened by the immunosuppression. 2. It is Vertex. They have a colorful history...
    - jmye 1y ago
      “that may have been worsened by the immunosuppression.” Fear-mongering bullshit. Why are you this upset about a study you don’t understand, about a condition you don’t understand, using parameters you don’t understand? Solely because it was done by the company that developed the drug? Good god. Just say you hate science. You’ll have good company in HHS, right now.
footlose_3815 1y ago
"Cured" seems to be words chosen by OP.
idiotsecant 1y ago
[flagged]
- jmye 1y ago
  How, specifically, is this anything like anything Mengele did? What a fucking bizarre statement.

85 points by gametorch 1y ago

bix6 1y ago

There are better options in development. Immunosuppressants are not something that most T1Ds I know are willing to take.

gnabgib 1y ago

Article title: Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islets for Type 1 Diabetes n=14, 2 died during the study, 10 had insulin independence (the paper does not say cured). Funding conflict: Funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (the makers of the cell–derived islet-cell therapy)

andyfleming 1y ago
> Two deaths occurred — one caused by cryptococcal meningitis and one by severe dementia with agitation owing to the progression of preexisting neurocognitive impairment.

mikequinlan 1y ago

Yes, cured but… >But patients in the trial had to stay on drugs to prevent the immune system from destroying the new cells. Suppressing the immune system, he said, increases the risk of infections and, over the long term, can increase the risk of cancer. >“The argument is this immunosuppression is not as dangerous as what we typically use for kidneys, hearts and lungs, but we won’t know that definitely for many years,” Dr. Hirsch said. >Patients may have to take the immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, the Vertex spokeswoman said. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/health/diabetes-cure-insulin-stem-cell.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RE8.daGe.6yc6DFIk97aA&smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/health/diabetes-cure-insu...

gsf_emergency_2 1y ago
>allogeneic The hope is that patient-derived cells will eventually be possible (whether the margins are attractive or not)
etaioinshrdlu 1y ago
And one of the patients in the study died of meningitis...
ink_13 1y ago
I'm not diabetic, but the trading "existing Type-1 management" for "lifelong immunosuppression" seems bananas. Usually the alternative to immunosuppression is "dying", not "manually and/or pump administered insulin".
- aaron695 1y ago
  [dead]
- nmehner 1y ago
  As written above: This might be different for people with dementia or other issues that are not in a mental state to manage their diabetes. From what I understand from the study the aim is to show that mass producing islet cells from stem cells is possible. Previously those where extracted from pancreases from dead people. Having cells extracted from your own body has the advantage that there are a lot of they are not rejected by the immune system. The reason the immune suppression is still needed is the cause of type 1 diabetes: It is a auto immune disease where the body attacks its own islet cells. But this a specific immune reaction which could be easier to prevent than the generic rejection of cells from a different body. But this is not what this approach is trying to do for now. This study just wants to show: This approach of creating islet cells work and it is worth trying to do a bigger more expensive study that can produce statistically relevant results. "Curing" type 1 diabetis is still years off and that requires the immune issue to be solved as well.
  - jmye 1y ago
    > This study just wants to show: This approach of creating islet cells work and it is worth trying to do a bigger more expensive study that can produce statistically relevant results. It is incredible to me what a hard time people are having understanding this extremely obvious fact. Knowing this is a possible path to a cure, even if it’s currently undesirable for the majority of patients, is an important step.

reify 1y ago

[flagged]

andyfleming 1y ago
If the islet cells persist then it's effectively cured. If new cells have to be injected regularly it's still likely to be a very effective treatment.
- spacedcowboy 1y ago
  Perhaps, but generally we hope the cure to be better than the affliction. Type 1 is fairly easily managed with insulin pumps and CGM for a closed loop system that almost approximates a functional pancreas. Taking immuno-suppressants, which often have painful or nauseous side-effects, as well as the elevated health risks of reducing your immune system doesn’t sound like it’s an actual improvement - at least IMHO.

KnuthIsGod 1y ago

Funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the company that is trying to sell this treatment... Vertex Pharmaceuticals early investors stand to benefit. Patients not so much... "Two deaths occurred — one caused by cryptococcal meningitis and one by severe dementia with agitation" "Neutropenia was the most common serious adverse event, occurring in 3 participants. " So two of 12 died.. Another three has significant neutropenia. Vertex have a bit of a track record: https://www.biospace.com/policy/hhs-says-vertex-is-grasping-at-straws-with-casgevy-fertility-suit#:~:text=Vertex%20sued%20the%20HHS%20in,bone%20marrow%20of%20stem%20cells. https://www.biospace.com/policy/hhs-says-vertex-is-grasping-... "Along with its gene editing therapy Casgevy, Vertex is offering fertility preservation support for its patients—a program that the HHS claims violates anti-kickback statutes." "Vertex sued the HHS in July 2024 after the department's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) decided not to issue a favorable opinion on the company's fertility support for Casgevy patients. "

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
tiahura 1y ago
How did someone with severe preexisting dementia consent and get approved for the study?
- KnuthIsGod 1y ago
  1. It was a preexisting neurodegenerative condition that may have been worsened by the immunosuppression. 2. It is Vertex. They have a colorful history...
  - jmye 1y ago
    “that may have been worsened by the immunosuppression.” Fear-mongering bullshit. Why are you this upset about a study you don’t understand, about a condition you don’t understand, using parameters you don’t understand? Solely because it was done by the company that developed the drug? Good god. Just say you hate science. You’ll have good company in HHS, right now.

footlose_3815 1y ago

"Cured" seems to be words chosen by OP.

idiotsecant 1y ago

[flagged]

jmye 1y ago
How, specifically, is this anything like anything Mengele did? What a fucking bizarre statement.