Results from a very small trial were announced with "promising" results. Living Cell Technologies (PINK:LVCLF), a New Zealand based company, injected 2 people in Russia with insulin-producing cells from the pancreas of piglets.
A similar trial was halted in New Zealand in 1996 after concerns were raised that people could be infected with pig retroviruses. This trial established that using the smallest does possible of of piglet pancreas cells produced more than a 25% decrease in the patients' daily insulin requirements.
Company chief Dr Paul Tan said is was a big step forward in Type 1 diabetes treament. "This is certainly a breakthrough. This is a radically different form of treatment for diabetes. If you look at the history of diabetes, apart from insulin there has really been nothing for the last half a century," Tan said. He also stated that the cells were able to overcome rejection by the patients because they were coated in a ball of gel, made from seaweed, allowed the glucose to enter and the insulin to be release but would stop the immune system from destroying them.
The company is now looking to get approval to start a similar trial in New Zealand and if they receive approval patients in New Zealand and Australia maybe able to undergo the procedure in 2-5 years.
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