First Human Trial of Gene-Edited Insulin-Producing Cells Shows Promise
A transmission electron micrograph of a section through pancreas tissue, showing cells that produce insulin
STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Alamy
The first human trial of insulin-producing cells that have been gene-edited to evade immune attack is showing promising results. A 42-year-old man with type 1 diabetes received an injection of these modified cells in early December, and they have successfully survived and produced insulin for a month.
As a precautionary measure, only a small number of insulin-producing beta cells were injected into the man’s forearm muscle during this initial trial. Therefore, he still requires insulin injections as part of his diabetes management. The long-term efficacy and safety of this gene-editing approach are yet to be determined, and further research is needed to assess the full potential of this innovative treatment.
