>But patients in the trial had to stay on drugs to prevent the immune system from destroying the new cells. Suppressing the immune system, he said, increases the risk of infections and, over the long term, can increase the risk of cancer.
>“The argument is this immunosuppression is not as dangerous as what we typically use for kidneys, hearts and lungs, but we won’t know that definitely for many years,” Dr. Hirsch said.
>Patients may have to take the immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives, the Vertex spokeswoman said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/health/diabetes-cure-insu...
The hope is that patient-derived cells will eventually be possible (whether the margins are attractive or not)
14 participants, 2 died, 10 out of 12 cured.
I thought this was going to be about the wonders of the ketogenic diet on diabetes, not another dangerous fantasy drug.
Taking immuno-suppressants, which often have painful or nauseous side-effects, as well as the elevated health risks of reducing your immune system doesn’t sound like it’s an actual improvement - at least IMHO.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals early investors stand to benefit.
Patients not so much...
"Two deaths occurred — one caused by cryptococcal meningitis and one by severe dementia with agitation"
"Neutropenia was the most common serious adverse event, occurring in 3 participants. "
So two of 12 died..
Another three has significant neutropenia.
Vertex have a bit of a track record:
https://www.biospace.com/policy/hhs-says-vertex-is-grasping-...
"Along with its gene editing therapy Casgevy, Vertex is offering fertility preservation support for its patients—a program that the HHS claims violates anti-kickback statutes."
"Vertex sued the HHS in July 2024 after the department's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) decided not to issue a favorable opinion on the company's fertility support for Casgevy patients. "
2. It is Vertex. They have a colorful history...
In general: funding for studies and funding for critical review should overlap as little as possible.
gnabgib•5h ago
n=14, 2 died during the study, 10 had insulin independence (the paper does not say cured).
Funding conflict: Funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (the makers of the cell–derived islet-cell therapy)
andyfleming•3h ago