Defymed/Semma Therapeutics: Turning to biology
French biotech developer Defymed is taking a biological approach to the problem with its Mailpan bio-artificial pancreas. The Mailpan device is designed to be implanted in the abdomen, taking the shape of a pouch containing insulin-secreting cells to restore normal and continuous insulin production in diabetic patients.
The device is intended to encapsulate insulin-secreting cells between membranes that are impermeable to the immune system but permeable for oxygen, nutrient, glucose and insulin transfer, the company said.
If successful, the therapy could offer a possible unlimited source of insulin-secreting cells, Defymed said, which would obviate the need for immuno-suppression treatment and allow patients to no longer have to receive repeat insulin injections.
Late last year, the company said it inked a collaborative deal with American biotech company Semma Therapeutics to support the continued development of a bio-artificial pancreas to treat type 1 diabetes. The collaborative deal will aim to achieve pre-clinical validation of Defymed’s Mailpan bio-artificial pancreas in combination with Semma’s stem-cell derived differentiated insulin-secreting cells, Defymed said.
Defymed in July 2016 formed a partnership with the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation to fund studies of its Mailpan bioartificial pancreas.
The company said the support will aid it in moving forward to clinical trials in humans, with its next project estimated to take up to 24 months to collect data on the immunoprotection properties of the device and to confirm previously collected functionality and safety data.
I’m patiently waiting for this to hit the marke; T1 for 58 years!
Thank you!
Thanks for the comment, Gayle. Hope you don’t have to wait much longer!
but what about the advancements in this? worth looking at, it is being investigated by the same people that are investing in this product. hope for us T1 diabetics is coming, one way or another. there is hope.
http://thejdca.org/practical-cure-project-update-bcg
Hats off to you, Gayle.
Waiting impatiently.
Mum of a 10-year-old T1
How do i get to be in the trial?
This will be great. I am 67 years old and am fighting the battle of diabetes. I would love to trial test something like this. I worked in the Medical field for 39 years and was always studying how to beat this terrible disease.
Ronnie McBride
I wish all success. I hope for biological approach to protect islet insulin producing cells for implant or infusion of cells to restore natural function of glucose metabolism. May God help us.
T1D for 70 years. Why not a cure instead of costing us more and more to live. We are the support of these drug and device companies. Thank you for this article. I do a diabetic newsletter for a T1D optimist club. Our next speaker is building his own device.
Thanks for the insights, Pat. I think it really says something about the motivation of the diabetes community that there’s so much do-it-yourself activity going on with devices, including when it comes to an artificial pancreas. Who do you have speaking?
You forgetting a big player in the Netherlands.
https://inredadiabetic.nl
Thanks for pointing out, Frank!