Researchers will start a new human clinical trial of a new type 1 diabetes treatment that could cure the disease and stop the need for painful insulin injections.
Experts at St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research (SVI) in Melbourne will determine if the drug baricitinib can stop the immune system from destroying the insulin-producing cells of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Baricitinib is currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
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“This would allow people who have recently been diagnosed with the disease to continue to produce insulin for a longer period and improve their glucose control,” SVI Professor Helen Thomas explained.
People between 12-30 years old who have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are being recruited to take part in the trial.
Seven Australians are diagnosed with the disease each day and are dependent on often painful insulin injections to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Other long-term complications of the condition include heart attack and stroke, vision impairment, kidney disease and nerve damage.
“It is tremendously exciting for us to be the first group anywhere in the world to test the efficacy of baricitinib as a potential type 1 diabetes treatment,” Director of SVI Professor Tom Kay said.
“If the trial proves successful, production of insulin will be maintained and people with type 1 diabetes will be significantly less dependent on insulin treatment.”
The trial will run at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital.
More information is available at www.svi.edu.au
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