Drugs that Reverse Diabetes Increase Insulin-Producing Cells by 700%
People living with diabetes may find renewed hope with a recent scientific breakthrough. Researchers have tested a novel drug therapy in diabetic mice and observed a remarkable 700% increase in insulin-producing cells over three months, effectively reversing the disease
Breakthrough in Insulin-Producing Cell Regeneration
In diabetes, the body’s destruction or damage to beta cells in the pancreas impairs its ability to produce sufficient insulin in response to blood sugar levels. The standard treatment involves regular insulin injections. Recent research has focused on restoring beta cell function, sometimes employing stem cells to generate new beta cells for transplantation—an approach often hailed as a “functional diabetes cure.”
Additionally, scientists at Mount Sinai and City of Hope have achieved a significant breakthrough by cultivating insulin-producing cells directly within the body over a matter of months. Moreover, their therapeutic approach combines harmine, a natural molecule that inhibits the enzyme DYRK1A in beta cells, with a GLP1 receptor agonist, a class of diabetes medications that includes Ozempic.
Furthermore, testing in mouse models of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes demonstrated a striking 700% increase in beta cells within three months. As a result, disease reversal was achieved even after treatment cessation.
Promising Results and Future Research Directions
Dr. Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña has highlighted this achievement as the “first instance of a drug proving effective in increasing adult human beta cell numbers in vivo, offering promise for future regenerative therapies in diabetes treatment.” However, further research is essential before clinical application.
Harmine has recently concluded a phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate its safety and tolerability in humans. Additionally, the research team plans to initiate trials involving other DYRK1A inhibitors next year. Ultimately, their aim is to combine beta cell regenerating drugs with immune system modulators to safeguard newly produced beta cells from immune system attacks.
Read the Original Article on: New Atlas
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