Table of Contents
Sana Biotechnology Announces Positive Clinical Results in Type 1 Diabetes Study of Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Without Immunosuppression Released by Sana.com on January 7, 2025.
Sana Biotechnology, Inc., a company focused on changing patient potential through genetically engineered cells, has launched UP421, Sana's hypoimmune-engineered allogeneic primary islet cell therapy (HIP). We announced the initial results of a first-in-human study led by transplant researchers. This technique is administered to patients with type 1 diabetes without the use of any immunosuppression. This study was carried out in collaboration with Uppsala University Hospital. Four weeks after cell transplantation, study results showed pancreatic beta cell survival and function, as measured by the presence of circulating C-peptide, a biomarker that indicates that transplanted beta cells are producing insulin. Demonstrate. C-peptide levels also increase in mixed meal tolerance tests (MMTT), consistent with insulin secretion in response to meals. MRI scans also demonstrated sustained signal over an extended period of time at the site of transplanted cells, consistent with graft survival. No safety issues were identified in this study, and HIP-modified islet cells avoided immune responses.
“These initial exciting results build on extensive preclinical and translational research by Dr. Sonja Schrepfer and the Sana team. This clinical data is very encouraging for patients and shows that 1 “This study provides the first evidence of overcoming allogeneic and autoimmune rejection in humans by islet cell transplantation in type diabetes,” said Per Ola Carlson, M.D., principal investigator and senior internist. . Professor at the Endocrinology and Diabetes Clinic, Uppsala University Hospital. “In type 1 diabetes, a person's immune system attacks and destroys beta cells. Today's data, combined with advances in other areas of this field, suggest that patients with type 1 diabetes, without insulin injections or immunosuppression, We look forward to long-term follow-up, which will be presented at a future scientific forum. We plan to submit our research results for publication.”
Steve Herr, president and CEO of Sana, said, “We have identified no safety issues and are not satisfied with the survival, function, or evasion of immunodetection of HIP-modified primary islet cells transplanted intramuscularly without immunosuppression.” “We demonstrated this and achieved our research goals.” board member. “To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate allograft survival without immunosuppression or immunoprotectors in fully immunocompetent individuals. Safe cell transplantation without immunosuppression is It has the potential to transform the treatment of diabetes mellitus and many other diseases.
Bionic pancreas maker Beta Bionics files for IPO By Elise Reuter, MedTechDive.com, January 8, 2025.
Beta Bionics, a developer of automated insulin delivery systems, has filed for an initial public offering. The company has not disclosed the number of shares to be sold or the price range. Beta Bionics plans to list its stock on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “BBNX.” The Irvine, Calif.-based company makes an insulin pump called iLet Bionic Pancreas, which received Food and Drug Administration clearance in 2023. Beta Bionics plans to use the proceeds to expand its sales and manufacturing infrastructure and develop new features for its devices.
The diabetes technology company reported revenue of $44.7 million and a net loss of $36.6 million for the nine months ended September 2024, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As of that date, Beta Bionics' installed customer base was 11,214. .
read more:
Glouko and Hedia launch joint diabetes management solution GlobalData.com, posted January 8, 2025.
Glooko and Danish digital therapeutics company Hedia have launched an integrated diabetes care technology in the UK to better support people with diabetes who require support for bolus insulin administration in their daily management. Glooko's platform allows patients to share diabetes data such as blood sugar readings, insulin doses, and blood pressure with their healthcare providers.
Integration with Hedia Diabetes Assistant, first announced in April 2023, allows patients using Glooko's platform to receive personalized support in calculating insulin doses, thereby simplifying diabetes management and support more consistent blood sugar levels, Glooko says. Mike Alvarez, CEO of Glooko, said: “Through our partnership with Hedia, we are excited to bring this algorithm-driven, personalized innovation to people with diabetes and their healthcare teams.
“With extensive clinical data supporting Hedia's effectiveness, this solution provides an alternative for people who do not have access to insulin pumps, ensuring more effective management of MDI.” [multiple daily injection] Treatment. “Currently available in the UK, the companies plan to roll out the service to other European countries at a later date.
read more: Glouko and Hedia launch joint diabetes management solution
CeQur raises $120 million to advance commercialization of wearable insulin patch GlobalData.com, published January 8, 2025.
Switzerland-based CeQur has completed a $120 million equity financing round to support continued commercialization efforts for its insulin delivery device CeQur Simplicity. The company said more than 6,000 diabetics are currently using the device since its pilot market launch in April 2021. The device consists of a wearable insulin delivery patch for injection-free bolus administration. CeQur plans to use the funding to expand its commercial team and outreach efforts to bring CeQur Simplicity to more healthcare providers and patients.
In June 2024, the device received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend the wear period by three to four days. The company says this development simplifies mealtime insulin management and replaces up to 12 injections. This results in more than 1,000 fewer injections per year.
“We are grateful for the support of our investors as we accelerate our mission to transform diabetes care,” said Brad Paddock, President and CEO of CeQur.
read more: CeQur raises $120 million to accelerate commercialization of wearable insulin patch
A new blood sugar monitoring method could revolutionize diabetes management by eliminating finger sticks to collect blood samples Published by Binghamton University on January 9, 2025 at Eurekalert.org.
Applying knowledge gained over the past 15 years on biobatteries by Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi's Bioelectronics and Microsystems Laboratory, a new paper-based biosensor system reacts to glucose in potassium-rich body fluids. Use bacterial spores of Bacillus subtilis to germinate. Like sweat. The amount of electricity produced determines blood sugar levels.
Choi, Assistant Professor Anwar El-Haddad, Ph.D. ’24, and doctoral student Yang “Lexi” Gao of the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering recently shared their research results with Microsystems & Nanoengineering Published in a magazine. This research was supported by two grants from the National Science Foundation.
read more:
New rules eliminate medical debt from consumer credit reports By Susanna Vogel from HealthCareDive.com, January 8, 2025.
On its way out, the Biden administration completed rules to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports and prohibit lenders from using medical information in lending decisions. The rule will remove an estimated $49 billion in medical debt from the credit reports of nearly 15 million Americans and reduce the credit scores of affected consumers, according to Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced the final rule on Tuesday. will increase by an average of 20 points.
The administration also directed states and localities to use American Rescue Plan funds for medical debt relief. Harris said the money has already been used to eliminate more than $1 billion in debt and is working toward eliminating $15 billion in medical debt.
read more: New rules eliminate medical debt from consumer credit reports
People who drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a lower overall risk of death than those who drink coffee throughout the day, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal.
The study was led by Dr. Lu Qi, HCA Board Distinguished Chair and professor at Tulane University's Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, USA.
“Previous research shows that drinking coffee does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and appears to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes,” he said. Considering the effects of caffeine on our bodies, we wanted to see if the time of day we drink coffee affects our heart health. ”
read more: Morning coffee may better protect your heart
