Researchers have been searching for a diabetes cure or a long-term solution for managing type 1 diabetes for decades now. They not only have to find a way to restore insulin production but also need to overcome the autoimmune attacks that destroy the beta cells that produce insulin. However, recent breakthroughs in islet transplantation, gene editing, and stem cell techniques are showing great promise. For example, researchers from Uppsala University Hospital recently revealed that gene-edited islet cells survived inside a type 1 diabetes patient for 12 weeks without any immunosuppressive medication. Let’s learn more about these exciting new type 1 diabetes treatments.
The Study on Hypoimmune Gene-Edited Islet Transplants
The researchers published the findings of their study in the New England Journal of Medicine in August 2025. For the study, the team conducted the first human trial to examine whether hypoimmune-engineered islet cells were able to evade rejection. The patient used in the study was a 42-year-old man who had lived with type 1 diabetes for 37 years.
The donor islet cells had first been edited with CRISPR so that the patient’s immune system would be less likely to attack them. During the editing process, they removed HLA proteins that usually send alert signals to the immune system. They also boosted CD47, which helps the cells hide from attacks launched by the immune system.
Over a period of 12 weeks, they observed signs that his body was producing insulin without any immune rejection and without using any immunosupport medications. This is significant, considering that people who get the traditional islet transplants typically require lifelong immunosuppression support.
One of the biggest barriers to widespread use is due to the fact the people usually need to take these medications for life. However, this new study indicates that we may soon have a type 1 diabetes treatment that does not require these medications.
However, it is important to keep in mind that there is still much more research to be done. This was the first “in-human” trial and only a small dose of edited cells (7% of a full replacement) was used in this case. That means that the patient still received his daily insulin therapy, so we aren’t at the point of completely reversing type 1 diabetes just yet. However, it did allow the researchers to examine the safety and function of the transplant and serves as proof-of-concept for future studies and trials.
Other Available Type 1 Diabetes Treatments
At the moment, the only cellular type 1 diabetes treatment approved in the United States is an infusion of donor islet cells called Lantidra (donislecel). This treatment can help specific individuals who suffer from lows that are hard to control and help others go long periods without needing to inject insulin.
However, patients still require immunosuppression, and the treatment relies on hard-to-access donor tissue. The new gene-editing technique would help address the immune issues and eventually the supply issue, since they would pair the edits with cells that have been grown at scale. Another potential diabetes cure involves using islets derived from stem cells.
If researchers are able to combine islets derived from stem cells with immune-evasive edits, you could potentially produce a large-scale source of transplantable cells. This approach currently faces several hurdles, such as figuring out how to keep the cells alive long-term and ensuring an adequate oxygen supply. Another method focuses on encapsulation.
The idea of encapsulation is to hide the cells behind a type of barrier that enables insulin and nutrients to pass through but blocks an immune attack. Another method involves changing the patient’s own cells with gene therapy. This method involves teaching the immune system to stop attacking beta cells or reprogramming cells to produce insulin. However, these treatments are still in their experimental phases.
The Bottom Line
Whether this new technique becomes a practical type 1 diabetes treatment depends on various factors. First off, researchers will need to prove that it is safe over time. Cell therapy and gene editing carry certain potential risks, such as unexpected immune reactions. Therefore. More studies involving more patients will still be needed to ensure that the technique is safe to apply. Many islet grafts lose proper function over time, too, so it will also be vital to see if hypoimmune cells last longer.
Yet, so far, the results seen in just one patient look promising. It has been shown that you can put cells that produce insulin into a type 1 diabetes patient without the subsequent ned for immunosuppressing medications. While this does not yet equate to a full-on diabetes cure, it is a significant first step in the right direction. With time, we can hopefully move from management to completely reversing type 1 diabetes in adults around the world.
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