I frequently get information via email, from LCT. They have developed a way to encapsulate porcine islet cells and inject them into type 1's, for a way to cure type 1 diabetes wothout the need for immunosuppresent drugs. It is in phase I/IIa HUMAN clinical trials, and I recieved the following update from them today:
"May 8, 2008 - Melbourne, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTC:LVCLY.PK) today announced that Australian television Channel Ten News will feature the Company's world first islet cell treatment being developed for insulin dependent diabetes on its news segment between 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm this evening.
The news segment will include Professor Bob Elliott, LCT's Medical Director, recounting LCT�s therapeutic approach of using encapsulated porcine insulin producing cells, DiabeCell�, and an interview with Michael Helyer, the world�s first patient to be implanted with a prototype of DiabeCell�. Ten years following his treatment, porcine insulin was detected in Mr Helyer's blood after an oral glucose dose, indicating that the cells were still alive and functioning.
LCT has further developed DiabeCell� as a new way of delivering insulin for people not able to produce insulin themselves. The news program will highlight the remarkable observation that with the new DiabeCell�, a patient suffering from type 1 diabetes for 15 years and enrolled in a continuing Phase I/IIa clinical trial of DiabeCell�, has been able to stop insulin injections for 5 months after a first dose, which was given without any immunosuppressive drugs � something not previously possible. Promising interim results from this ongoing Phase I/IIa clinical trial were announced by the Company on March 31, 2008 at the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Congress in Wellington, New Zealand, and the NZBio Conference in Auckland, New Zealand.
A web link to the program will be accessible on the Living Cell Technology website from tomorrow afternoon (www.lctglobal.com)"
I was wondering if anyone in Australia saw this. Very exciting news. I will post more info as I receive it. Just wanted to share this.
