The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT) and the University of Aberdeen have launched Islexa, a new company developing a novel technology to produce laboratory-grown islets, which are responsible for insulin production. The technology could bring the option of an islet transplant to thousands more patients with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
Currently in the UK, only 30–50 patients with hypoglycaemic unawareness can receive an islet transplant each year, due to the low availability of suitable donor organs and the difficulty involved in extracting the islets. Islexa technology works by reprogramming donated pancreatic tissue into fully functional islets, which will increase significantly the number of patients who can receive the treatment. An islet transplant can give patients effective, long-term glucose control without the need of insulin administration.
Professor Kevin Docherty (University of Aberdeen) said: “The technology is based on converting pancreatic tissue into functional islets. This has an advantage over the use of stem cells as source material, as at the moment they generate only the insulin-producing β-cells. Islets are organoids that produce multiple hormones, including insulin and donated islets are already effectively treating severe cases of T1DM. Having a hugely expanded supply of laboratory-grown islets will enable us to extend this established clinical treatment significantly.”