Possible Cures In The News (March)

Here are some bits and pieces of research, that I found interesting:

GAD65 Not Effective for LADA

GAD65 is one of the molecules targeted in the autoimmune attack which leads to type-1 diabetes.  A company called Diamyd, developed it as a honeymoon cure for type-1 diabetes.  The hope was it would train the immune system not to attack pancreas cells, and that would stop type-1 diabetes. It looked OK in phase-II trials, but failed phase-III trials a few years ago.

However, there were a few other studies underway when the phase-III data came in, and this is one of those studies.  The researchers were giving GAD65 to people who had LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults).  LADA is a not separate form of diabetes, but a name given to people who have type-1 diabetes, but are diagnosed in adulthood (usually over 25).

In this trial, GAD65 treatment had no effect.

Abstract: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2014/03/04/dc13-1719.abstract?papetoc


Non-Cure Research

When Does Type-1 Diabetes Start?

Currently, type-1 diabetes is diagnosed when symptoms are seen.  Usually, those symptoms are signs of high blood sugar: excessive urination and thirst, unexplained weight loss, lack of energy, etc.  More recently, some people have been diagnosed because their after meal blood sugar spikes above 200, even before the other symptoms are seen.

But now, there is some discussion that maybe we should change the definition of type-1 diabetes even earlier.    You can read about that in the link below:

JDRF News: http://bayarea.jdrf.org/blog/redefining-diagnosis/

Another Veo Safety Study

The Medtronic Veo is the first (very small) step to an artificial pancreas.  It shuts off for a few hours if blood sugar levels go low for too long.  This could be a huge step forward in preventing "dead in bed" fatalities, which are a significant cause of death for people with type-1 diabetes.

Anyway, there was a clinical trial to find out what would happen if the Veo cut off insulin incorrectly, when the BG levels were high (instead of low).  This is the exact opposite of what the Veo is supposed to do, and it has not been seen to happen in actual use.  However, the idea was to test to see what would happen, if the pump failed in this way.

The researchers found that even if this failure occurred, nothing bad happened to the person using it.  So that gives an added level of safety for this product (and presumably similar products, when they come to market in the future).

Abstract: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/3/773.abstract?etoc

Future Postings

I'm currently working on three blog postings, which I hope to get out in the next month, but obviously, I'm way behind, so no promises.  And I don't know what order they will come out in:

• Dr. Damiano's Bihormonal Artificial Pancreas
• Dr. Faustman's Phase-II study of BCG
• General Update on AAT 

Joshua Levy
http://cureresearch4type1diabetes.blogspot.com 
publicjoshualevy at gmail dot com
All the views expressed here are those of Joshua Levy, and nothing here is official JDRF, JDCA, or Tidepool news, views, policies or opinions. My daughter has type-1 diabetes and participates in clinical trials, which might be discussed here. My blog contains a more complete non-conflict of interest statement. Thanks to everyone who helps with the blog.