Living Cell Technologies Limited (LCT) announced that the first patient to receive an implant of DIABECELL® in New Zealand is progressing well. Dr John Baker, Endocrinologist and Principal Investigator at the Centre for Clinical Research and Effective Practice (CCRep), Middlemore Hospital, reported today that the patient with type 1 diabetes, who received LCT’s encapsulated insulin producing porcine cells (pig islet cells) on 6 October, has reduced his insulin dose by 30% while maintaining his usual blood glucose levels, and has suffered no ill effects.The 48-year-old man has had type 1 diabetes for 20 years.
LCT is a New Zealand based biotechnology company focused on developing living cell products for the treatment of diabetes, neurological disease and haemophilia. The company is the only xenoimplantation (animal to human implantation) company to have achieved clinical trial status under the current regulatory environment.
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[...] Living Cell Technologies announced that the first patient in their trial to receive a transplant of insulin producing porcine cells is doing well, and has reduced his insulin dose by 30 %. Great news! A few months ago I read about the start of LCT’s trial, and wrote about it for The Faster Times. I’m re-posting the article here in my blog. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on xenotransplantation. [...]