DIDNRI Moves Closer to a Cure

Type 1 diabetes usually strikes in childhood, turning the world of previously healthy children upside down. Suddenly, the baseball gloves, Barbies and other childhood joys are joined by the harsh reality of daily insulin injections and rigorous dietary requirements. While daily insulin injections keep those with diabetes alive, dreadful complications can result and the disease often shortens the lifespan of its sufferers.

Scientists at the Diabetes & Immune Disease National Research Institute (DIDNRI), a nonprofit medical research institution, are well aware of the severe challenges of type 1 diabetes and are working very hard toward a cure. Their research focuses on fighting type 1 diabetes and other disorders by unraveling the mysteries of the immune system. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This results in a complete deficiency of the insulin hormone, causing the need for insulin injections and dietary regimens to control blood sugar. The disorder, which typically starts in childhood and carries on through life, currently affects about 2 million Americans.

The Institute's search for a cure took a major step in 2006, with the announcement by DIDNRI researcher Matthias von Herrath, M.D., of a new combination therapy that may halt type 1 diabetes, when caught in the early stages.

The finding generated international headlines and significant excitement in the scientific community. Dr. von Herrath's study in mice used a combination of a vaccine to stimulate beneficial immune cells that can prevent pancreatic cell destruction and an immunosuppressant that prevents this destruction. The combination reversed recent onset type 1 diabetes in the majority of animals tested. The finding was particularly significant because both treatments have previously been tested separately in humans.

In those earlier studies, however, pancreas destruction was stopped for more than a year, but then resumed, and significant side effects occurred. Dr. von Herrath's insight was to combine the two therapies, producing a strong synergy with better effectiveness and fewer side effects. Particularly exciting – the diabetes never reoccurred in the lifespan of the mice.

Human clinical trials are planned for 2007 and will involve individuals with pre-diabetes or recently diagnosed diabetes. The therapy is designed for those in the early stages of diabetes, who have not yet had a significant amount of beta cell destruction.