University of Virginia, US
At the American Diabetes Association's upcoming 68th Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco, Dr. Jerry L. Nadler will be presenting some very promising news.
Dr. Nadler's team at the University of Virginia has been testing a new combination of drugs which shows promise for the treatment of Type I Diabetes. This condition is autoimmune, caused when the body attacks insulin-prodicing cells produced by the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone used by cells to convert food into energy. When the body is deprived of insulin, heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and other serious complications can arise.
The two drugs used in the study are Lisofylline, designed to stop the body's assault on insulin-producing cells, and Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein peptide (INGAP), a drug modeled after natural protein produced by the pancreas. In the study, a control group of diabetic mice were given a placebo drug, a second group was treated with just the Lisofylline, a third with just INGAP, and a last group was given a combination of both drugs. In the mice treated with both drugs, 70% showed a remission in diabetes after the treatment was withdrawn.
According to Dr. Nadler, "These are very encouraging results. . . Since both LSF and INGAP are already known to be safe, we should soon be able to begin testing the combination of LSF and INGAP in the clinic as a potential therapy for Type 1 diabetes in people. . ."
To learn more about the study, visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610112632.htm
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