ViaCyte, a regenerative medicine company long-supported by Breakthrough T1D, today announced $27 million in financing to continue the development of beta cell therapies for diabetes. This funding ensures that Viacyte’s innovative approaches to replacing the insulin-producing beta cells in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) will keep progressing.
“Beta cell therapies are a key component of Breakthrough T1D’s strategy to find cures for T1D,” said Esther Latres, Ph.D., Breakthrough T1D Director, Research. “Therapies like those currently being developed by Viacyte have the potential to eliminate insulin therapy and give people living with T1D a respite from the daily management of T1D.”
In October 2019, Viacyte achieved a critical milestone: their PEC-Direct therapy was the first beta cell replacement therapy to demonstrate the ability to produce C-peptide, a biomarker for insulin, in people with T1D. Breakthrough T1D underwrote the development of the proprietary line of stem cells used in their therapy and supported several pre-clinical and clinical trials. Breakthrough T1D also had a major hand in the creation of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine in 2004, which is another major funder of the company.
Along with the PEC-Direct therapy, Viacyte is working on several other beta cell replacement therapies.
In addition to currently supporting Viacyte and their efforts to develop beta cell therapies, Breakthrough T1D is advancing research in this area through funding and regulatory work as part of the Breakthrough T1D Beta Cell Replacement Consortium. The Consortium brings together the top minds in this and related fields, ensuring collaboration and eliminating redundant work. Read more about cell therapies.
Learn more about this news via their press release.
