A new stem cell treatment called zimislecel has shown promising results in early clinical trial results, according to University of Pennsylvania doctors. The therapy aims to restore the body’s ability to produce insulin and regulate blood sugar levels.
In a study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine, 12 people with type 1 diabetes were treated with zimislecel. Within 90 days, none experienced severe hypoglycemic events, and ten became insulin-independent a year later. The treatment is made from stem cells that are coaxed to become pancreatic islet cells, which produce insulin.
While the treatment appears to free patients of daily symptoms, it doesn’t address the autoimmune dysfunction that defines type 1 diabetes. As a result, patients would need lifelong immunosuppressive therapy, which increases their risk of infections and other side effects.
The company behind the treatment, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, hopes to submit for regulatory approval in 2026. However, more research is needed to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy. The treatment could provide an unlimited supply of insulin-producing cells, making it a potential game-changer for people with type 1 diabetes.
Experts say that if successful, zimislecel could redefine the treatment paradigm for type 1 diabetes, offering a “functional cure” for those affected by this autoimmune disease.
Source: https://www.inquirer.com/health/zimislecel-type-1-diabetes-penn-20250722.html