Living Cell Technologies Receives Grant from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International for DIABECELL NZ Clinical Trial
US$500,000 towards current New Zealand Phase II Clinical Trial of DIABECELL
Living Cell Technologies Limited has received a grant of US$500,000 for its on-going Phase II clinical trial of DIABECELL® in New Zealand from the Juvenile diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), a world leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research and the largest charitable funder and advocate for research in type 1 diabetes.
The first four patients have already received implants and early observations show clinical benefit without remarkable adverse events to date. The Data Safety Monitoring Board has approved proceeding with implants of a higher dose for the next four patients. The JDRF grant will contribute to the second portion of the Phase II trial, which will test the safety and efficacy of DIABECELL® given in higher amounts in patients with type 1 diabetes.
“The initial results from the first phase of the trial showed us a significant feature of LCT’s product in its ability to protect the cells from immune rejection without the use of immunosuppressive anti-rejection drugs,” said Dr Julia Greenstein, Ph.D., Director of Beta Cell Therapies at JDRF. “Encapsulation for immuno-protection is one of JDRF’s research priorities, and the success of this trial could have an important impact on this field of research and the development of a commercially-viable cell replacement therapy for people with type 1 diabetes.”
The collaboration with JDRF and LCT for the Phase II trial of DIABECELL® is part of JDRF’s innovative Industry and Discovery and Development Partnership program. Through the program, JDRF partners with pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device businesses that seek to develop drugs, treatments, technologies, and other therapeutics leading to a cure, reversal, or prevention of type 1 diabetes and its complications. To date, JDRF has made 27 industry grant awards to support a variety of strategic type 1 diabetes research projects since the IDDP program was established in 2004.
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