[fgummett]

CTV.ca | Scientists try to see if pig cells can help diabetics

Canadian researchers are studying whether pig cells might help patients suffering from Type 1 diabetes eliminate the need for daily injections or insulin pumps.

The scientists are continuing research begun in Mexico. Researchers there examined whether it was possible to treat some diabetics by infusing patients with pig cells that produce insulin.

The Mexican research appeared to be successful, but was cancelled because it did not meet international standards. Sam Golas, 13, was one of very few people in the world to have undergone the experimental treatment after travelling to Mexico four years ago.

He was infused with insulin-producing cells from pigs in what was considered a controversial animal-to-human transplant. The procedure did not get rid of his diabetes, but he now uses 20 per cent less insulin because the pig cells appear to be making some of the insulin for him.

"It was a big improvement and it was a big step and every Canadian should have the opportunity to have it done," his father, Nathan Golas, told CTV News.

The treatment doesn't require any powerful anti-rejection drugs, and pig-cell transplants appear to have worked in other young diabetics to varying degrees.

The Mexican study was never followed up. But Canadian researchers are now hoping to find solutions to some unanswered questions.

"There's no doubt in my mind that the treatment the patients got in Mexico was of benefit to those patients," Dr. David White told CTV News.

White and a team of scientists have been refining the technique and are in discussions with the U.S Food and drug administration for further experiments.

"We can make it work much better than those initial, I think, very courageous studies," White said.

Depending on the results of some upcoming studies on animals, researchers hope to begin testing the pig cells in humans as soon as the fall of 2009.

[Olidus]

This is really interesting.
Heck 20% is better than nothing, and it can only get better from there on in with the study I would think.

[viranth]

It's so frustrating that we have the solution RIGHT THERE, but no one bothers to really go for it.

I mean, if they put pig islets in humans, what's the worst thing that could happen?

[shiftzor]

Originally Posted by viranth

It's so frustrating that we have the solution RIGHT THERE, but no one bothers to really go for it.

I mean, if they put pig islets in humans, what's the worst thing that could happen?

They can’t kill 100s of diabetics just because they want to rush a “cure” to market, I want a cure but I also want to live. Would you really choose a totally unproven "cure" (if it existed) that could do unknown damage to you VS living like you do now. Things have to get better not worse. Offering help in a clinical trial is a different matter since it is a controlled environment and we as diabetics can only benefit from. I would definitely participate if I could.

These news headlines are soo unfair on us diabetics as they constantly have headlines suggesting an imminent cure, then you read the content and in reality they have only moved forward a few steps. It’s like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey tied to a fence. However it’s promising to hear that this type of research is moving forwards in a positive light. Lets not give up yet

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by viranth

It's so frustrating that we have the solution RIGHT THERE, but no one bothers to really go for it.

I mean, if they put pig islets in humans, what's the worst thing that could happen?

The risks are a lot more complicated than you might think. Pig islets could transmit porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) to diabetic patients. The concern is that these viruses could then be transmitted to other humans. A New Zealand team has been working on this for many years (Living Cell Technologies) and they are still a long way from getting it to market, mainly because of the retrovirus risk.

[DeusXM]

What would be ideal would be a central register of willing 'guinea pigs'. Some people are prepared to take any risk, no matter what, to be cured. Provided they provided informed consent, they could then be experimented on in order to help advance cure research more quickly than can currently happen with the ethical regulations.

I personally wouldn't volunteer for it and I think a lot of people wouldn't want to either, but the option should be there for those who really want to take the risk.

[fgummett]

Trouble with the "any risk" guinea-pigs as BlueSky mentioned is the possibility of transferring retroviruses to humans which they could in turn pass on to other humans.