Transplanting pancreatic islet cells for brittle type 1 diabetes

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Allogeneic Transplantation of Expanded Pancreatic Islet Cells in Patients With "Brittle" Type 1 Diabetes

This study is testing if transplanting pancreatic islet cells can help people with brittle type 1 diabetes have better blood sugar control and fewer low blood sugar episodes.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 60 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai)
• Trial ID: NCT05990530 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of transplanting allogeneic pancreatic islet cells in patients suffering from brittle type 1 diabetes. Participants will undergo a procedure involving the transplantation of expanded islet cells to assess improvements in glycemic control and reduction in hypoglycemic episodes. The trial aims to determine if this intervention can provide a more stable insulin-independent state for patients who experience severe fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 to 60 with brittle type 1 diabetes who have been on insulin therapy for at least five years and experience significant glycemic instability.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have brittle type 1 diabetes or those outside the specified age and BMI range may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the quality of life for patients with brittle type 1 diabetes by reducing severe hypoglycemic episodes and stabilizing blood glucose levels.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies on pancreatic islet cell transplantation have shown promise in improving glycemic control in type 1 diabetes, suggesting that this approach may be beneficial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Voluntarily sign an informed consent form and agree to comply with the trial treatment plan and visit schedule.
2. Age ≥18 years and ≤60 years on the day of signing the informed consent form, regardless of gender.
3. Body mass index (BMI) ≥18.0 kg/m2 and ≤35.0 kg/m2.
4. Diagnosed with T1DM based on the World Health Organization's diabetes classification (2019).
5. HbA1c ≥7.0% and ≤15.0% at screening.
6. Dependence on insulin injection therapy for ≥5 years, receiving a stable insulin treatment plan for ≥3 months, and injecting insulin three or more times per day or using an insulin pump.
7. Postprandial mixed meal stimulated C-peptide level \<0.3 ng/mL.
8. Experienced impaired awareness of hypoglycemia or significant glycemic instability during screening and in the past 6 months. Hypoglycemic episodes are associated with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia, extreme glycemic instability, or severe fear and maladaptive behavior.
9. Sexually active males who are not surgically sterilized or have partners of childbearing potential agree to use effective contraception during the entire trial period and for at least 6 months after the study ends; sexually active females of childbearing potential agree to use effective contraception during the entire study period and for at least 6 months after the study ends.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Types of diabetes other than T1DM.
2. Body mass index (BMI) \>35 kg/m2 or weight \<50 kg.
3. Excessive insulin sensitivity and/or insulin resistance (insulin requirement \>1.0 IU/kg/day or \<15 U/day).
4. Previous pancreatic or islet transplantation. Severe trauma, severe infection, or surgery that may affect glycemic control within one month before screening.
5. History of hypertension with systolic blood pressure (SBP) \>160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \>100 mmHg after stable dose (at least 4 weeks) of antihypertensive medication.
6. Blood transfusion or severe bleeding within the past 3 months, known hemoglobin-related diseases, anemia (moderate to severe), or other known hemoglobinopathies that interfere with HbA1c measurement (such as sickle cell disease).
7. Impaired liver or kidney function at screening: aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥3 times ULN, total bilirubin level (TBL) ≥2 times ULN (excluding Gilbert's syndrome), creatinine clearance rate \<45 mL/min (calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula).
8. Significant albuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate \>300 mg/g) or history thereof.
9. Uncontrolled or untreated thyroid disease or adrenal insufficiency.
10. Severe diabetic kidney disease or renal insufficiency, proliferative retinopathy, diabetic foot ulcers, diabetes-related amputation, and/or severe peripheral neuropathy at screening.
11. Active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, syphilis, or tuberculosis. Even without clinical evidence of active infection, participants with laboratory evidence of active infection are also excluded.
12. Severe heart disease or a history of cardiovascular disease within 6 months before screening, including stroke, decompensated heart failure (NYHA class III or IV), myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or coronary artery bypass grafting.
13. Previous history of coagulation disorders or requiring long-term anticoagulant therapy (e.g., warfarin) (low-dose aspirin therapy is allowed) or patients with INR \>1.5.
14. Substance abusers with a history of drug abuse/dependence or drug use within 1 year before screening.
15. Received live vaccines within 14 days before screening or planned to receive live vaccines during the trial or within 1 month after treatment. Live vaccines include, but are not limited to, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, typhoid vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, etc.
16. Patients with a history of acute or chronic pancreatitis, symptomatic gallbladder disease, pancreatic injury, or other high-risk factors for pancreatitis, or patients with blood amylase \>1.2 times ULN at screening.
17. Other abnormal laboratory test results deemed clinically significant by the investigator.
18. Patients with severe mental illness.
19. Participated in a drug or medical device clinical trial within the past 3 months and received investigational drugs or medical devices; or within 5 half-lives of another drug before screening (if the half-life exceeds 3 months).
20. Currently receiving long-term (continuous for ≥14 days) systemic pharmacological doses of glucocorticoids or other medications that may affect the participant's consciousness.
21. Treatment (local, intra-articular, intraocular, or inhalation preparations) for any other factors or diseases not mentioned above, deemed unsuitable for participation in this clinical study by the investigator.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai

• Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University — Shanghai, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Weiqiong Gu, PhD

Conditions Brittle Type 1 Diabetes