A number of people with type 1 diabetes have responded quite well to pig cell implants that are helping to replace lost insulin. Type 1 diabetes develops when insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are damaged or destroyed. People with type 1 diabetes need daily insulin injections to adjust their blood glucose levels. This common and standard treatment can result in fluctuating glucose levels that may shorten lifespan.
Living Cell Technologies, an Australian biotechnology company based in New Zealand is using pancreas cells taken from pigs to replace the missing insulin. Nine people with type 1 diabetes have been implanted with the cells, which produce and secrete insulin. All of them appear to be responding well, reducing their daily insulin dose with no serious side effects.
The company is also experimenting with pig cells to promote new central nervous system growth and repair disease-induced nerve degeneration such as Parkinson’s disease.
Renzo J. Bustamante-Wendorff, B.S., M.S.
Research & Development
References: New Scientist, June 17, 2017
