Injection to stop diabetes progression - London

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Injection to stop type I diabetes progression

LONDON

By Natasha Jenabzadeh

The progression of early type I diabetes may be stopped by administering a

specific peptide injection that acts by preventing destruction of

insulin-producing -cells, according to Israeli researchers.

The scientists believe that, if patients can be treated early, it might be

possible to improve their quality of life by significantly reducing their

insulin dependence.

In previous studies a protein derivative - the peptide DiaPep277 - stopped

the destruction of -cells and maintained insulin production in newly

diabetic mice.

Drs Itamar Raz and Dana Elias, together with colleagues from the

Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School, and Peptor Ltd, Israel, carried

out a phase II study of peptide treatment in patients with newly diagnosed

type 1 diabetes.

Of the 35 patients in the study, 18 were randomly assigned DiaPep277 and 17

placebo. Both groups had basal C-peptide concentrations above 0.1nmol per

litre - indicating that they still had some -cell function.

All participants received three injections - at enrolment, one month and six

months. The researchers followed up the patients for 10 months. This allowed

time for significant loss of capacity to produce C-peptide (in response to

glucagon stimulation) to occur.

Results indicated that patients in the placebo group showed a progressive

loss in C-peptide concentrations. In comparison, patients assigned DiaPep277

maintained their production of C-peptide after glucagon stimulation. The

research team noted that the difference in both groups was significant at 7

months and 10 months of follow-up.

In addition, patients in the placebo group required more insulin therapy

than patients in the treatment group. The DiaPep277 peptide altered the type

of immune response of patients in the treatment group.

Side effects related to the treatment were insignificant - there was a

slight redness at the injection site in four patients, which resolved within

two days when the treatment ceased.

The study authors concluded, " This trial was designed to test the effect of

the peptide treatment in preventing the continued loss of C-peptide during

the period shortly after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

" It remains to be seen whether, and with what intervals, additional

treatments might be needed to maintain long-term endogenous insulin

production. "

The study authors said this therapeutic approach might also halt or delay

the development of complications and, possibly, extend patients' lives.

 

Source: The Lancet

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