A single injection, hailed as a "potential cure" for type 1 diabetes, is set to be tested this year, raising hopes that it could end the need for daily insulin injections.
This unique treatment aims to help the body control its own blood sugar levels – potentially for life.
In a world-first study, patients will be given a gene therapy that turns muscle into long-lasting insulin producers, with effects that could last for years - even decades. Dr Partha Kar, national diabetes adviser at NHS England, described the approach as "very promising", stressing that it could represent a "functional cure" and help many patients if it proves successful.
Currently, adults with type 1 diabetes – an incurable disease that affects around 464,000 people in the UK – depend on daily insulin injections or pumps to survive. The disease occurs when the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, making it impossible to regulate blood sugar normally.
The new treatment, known as KRIYA-839, follows a completely different approach.
Instead of replacing insulin through injections or devices, it aims to turn the patient's own muscles into a sustainable insulin "factory".
Scientists hope that after a single injection into the thigh, muscle cells will begin to produce insulin and other proteins that regulate blood sugar, eliminating or significantly reducing the need for daily treatment.
Importantly, this therapy does not involve DNA modification. It simply sends genetic instructions to muscle cells, enabling them to produce insulin in a controlled manner over time.
Preliminary studies in animals have yielded promising results, with effects lasting up to four years without the need for ongoing immune system suppression.
Now, for the first time, this therapy will be tested in humans.
The study will include adults with uncontrolled blood sugar levels who are already using automated insulin delivery systems. This will allow scientists to measure exactly how much insulin the therapy produces and how well it stabilizes glucose levels.
Participants will receive injections in both thighs during an outpatient visit lasting up to an hour. The full effect of the treatment is expected to be achieved within two to three months.
There will also be a brief phase of “immune modulation,” where the immune system is temporarily dampened to help the therapy penetrate the cells – a key step for its success.
If effective, treatment can last for years – even a lifetime.
Endocrinology expert Jeremy Pettus points out that this field is entering a new phase: something that was once thought to be realized in 10–15 years is now actually underway.
Dr. Kar adds that the impact could be transformative, even if the therapy doesn't completely eliminate the need for insulin. Even if it covers about 75% of insulin needs, that would be a major achievement and would significantly reduce dependence on high doses, pumps, and constant monitoring.
However, experts urge caution. It is not yet known exactly how much insulin the therapy will produce and how long its effect will last.
Other specialists also warn that the term "cure" should be used with caution at this stage. According to them, this therapy has great potential and, if it manages to keep sugar levels within healthy limits most of the time, it can be considered a "functional cure."
The initial study will last a year, while future phases are expected to include more patients, including those treated with daily injections.
If the results are positive, this therapy could mark a turning point in the treatment of type 1 diabetes – turning it from a disease that is managed every day, to a condition that is controlled with a single intervention.
For patients who live their entire lives with injections and constant monitoring, this opportunity represents a new and real hope. /GazetaExpress/
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