Long term Glycemic Control Using Polymer Encapsulated, Human Stem-Cell Derived β-cells in Immune Competent mice

The transplantation of glucose-responsive, insulin-producing cells offers the potential for restoring glycemic control in diabetic patients1. Pancreas transplantation and the infusion of cadaveric islets are currently implemented clinically2, but are limited by the adverse effects of lifetime immunosuppression and the limited supply of donor tissue3. The latter concern may be addressed by recently described glucose responsive mature β-cells derived from human embryonic stem cells; called SC-β, these cells may represent an unlimited human cell source for pancreas replacement therapy4. Strategies to address the immunosuppression concern include immunoisolation of insulin-producing cells with porous biomaterials that function as an immune barrier5,6. However, clinical implementation has been challenging due to host immune responses to implant materials7. Here, we report the first long term glycemic correction of a diabetic, immune-competent animal model with human SC-β cells. SC-β cells were encapsulated with alginate-derivatives capable of mitigating foreign body responses in vivo, and implanted into the intraperitoneal (IP) space of streptozotocin-treated (STZ) C57BL/6J mice. These implants induced glycemic correction until removal at 174 days without any immunosuppression. Human C-peptide concentrations and in vivo glucose responsiveness demonstrate therapeutically relevant glycemic control. Implants retrieved after 174 days contained viable insulin-producing cells

Conformal Coating of Stem Cell-Derived Islets for β Cell Replacement in Type 1 Diabetes

The scarcity of donors and need for immunosuppression limit pancreatic islet transplantation to a few patients with labile type 1 diabetes. Transplantation of encapsulated stem cell-derived islets (SC islets) might extend the applicability of islet transplantation to a larger cohort of patients. Transplantation of conformal-coated islets into a confined well-vascularized site allows long-term diabetes reversal in fully MHC-mismatched diabetic mice without immunosuppression. Here, we demonstrated that human SC islets reaggregated from cryopreserved cells display glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro. Importantly, we showed that conformally coated SC islets displayed comparable in vitro function with unencapsulated SC islets, with conformal coating permitting physiological insulin secretion. Transplantation of SC islets into the gonadal fat pad of diabetic NOD-scid mice revealed that both unencapsulated and conformal-coated SC islets could reverse diabetes and maintain human-level euglycemia for more than 80 days. Overall, these results provide support for further evaluation of safety and efficacy of conformal-coated SC islets in larger species. •Reaggregated human SC islets display glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro•Conformal-coated human SC islets displayed physiological insulin secretion•Conformal-coated human SC islets in mice reversed diabetes to human euglycemic levels Scarcity of donors and need for immunosuppression limit pancreatic islet transplantation to a few patients with labile type 1 diabetes. Islet encapsulation may eliminate the need for chronic immunosuppression. Conformal coating seeks to overcome limitations of traditional microencapsulation. Transplantation of conformal-coated stem cell-derived islets might extend the applicability of islet transplantation to a larger cohort of patients

836-P: Glucose-Dependent Insulin Production and Insulin-Independence in Type 1 Diabetes from Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islet Cells—Updated Data from the VX-880 Clinical Trial

VX-880 is an investigational allogeneic stem cell-derived, fully differentiated, pancreatic islet cell replacement therapy being evaluated in a phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with T1D and impaired hypoglycemic awareness and severe hypoglycemia. The phase 1/2 trial has three parts: Part A in which 2 patients are enrolled sequentially and receive half the target dose (presented at ADA 2022), Part B in which 5 patients are enrolled sequentially and receive the target (full) dose, and Part C where 10 patients are enrolled concurrently and receive the target (full) dose. The first two patients infused with VX-880 at half the target dose (in Part A) had restored insulin production and glucose control. One of these patients achieved and has maintained insulin independence, defined as at least one week off exogenous insulin, HbA1C ≤7%, post-prandial serum glucose at 90 minutes ≤180 mg/dL, fasting serum glucose ≤126 mg/dL, and fasting or stimulated C-peptide ≥166 pmol/L (latter 3 measured during mixed-meal tolerance test). The safety profile was consistent with the immunosuppressive regimen used in the study and the perioperative period. Part B is now fully enrolled and multiple patients have been dosed with the full (target) dose. Longer-term data on both patients in Part A and new data on patients who received the full (target) dose in Part B will be provided in the presentation. These results are the first from a clinical trial of allogeneic, fully differentiated, insulin producing, stem cell-derived islets which has demonstrated the potential to restore insulin production and glycemic control and provide insulin independence in patients with T1D. Disclosure T.W.Reichman: Consultant; Sernova, Corp., Research Support; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. J.L.Shih: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. C.Wang: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. D.Melton: None. F.Pagliuca: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Stock/Shareholder; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. B.Sanna: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. L.S.Kean: Advisory Panel; HiFiBio, Mammoth Biosciences, Consultant; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Other Relationship; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Research Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Merck & Co., Inc., Tessera, Novartis. A.L.Peters: Advisory Panel; Abbott Diabetes, Medscape, Novo Nordisk, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S, Research Support; Abbott Diabetes, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Stock/Shareholder; Omada Health, Inc., Livongo. P.Witkowski: Advisory Panel; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Novartis. M.R.Rickels: Consultant; Sernova, Corp., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S, Research Support; Dompé. C.Ricordi: Advisory Panel; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. A.Naji: None. J.F.Markmann: None. B.A.Perkins: Advisory Panel; Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Other Relationship; Abbott, Medtronic, Sanofi, Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Bank of Montreal (BMO). M.Wijkstrom: None. S.Paraskevas: None. B.Bruinsma: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. G.Marigowda: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Economics of Beta-Cell Replacement Therapy

Purpose of Review: Type 1 diabetes impacts 1.3 million people in the USA with a total direct lifetime medical cost of $133.7 billion. Management requires a mix of daily exogenous insulin administration and frequent glucose monitoring. Decision-making by the individual can be burdensome. Recent Findings: Beta-cell replacement, which involves devices protecting cells from autoimmunity and allo-rejection, aims at restoring physiological glucose regulation and improving clinical outcomes in patients. Given the significant burden of T1D in the healthcare systems, cost-effectiveness analyses can drive innovation and policymaking in the area. Summary: This review presents the health economics analyses performed for donor-derived islet transplantation and the possible outcomes of stem cell-derived beta cells. Long-term cost-effectiveness of islet transplantation depends on the engraftment of these transplants, and the expenses and thresholds assumed by healthcare systems in different countries. Early health technology assessment analyses for stem cell-derived beta-cell replacement suggest manufacturing optimization is necessary to reduce upfront costs

Long-term glycemic control using polymer-encapsulated human stem cell–derived beta cells in immune-competent mice

The transplantation of glucose-responsive, insulin-producing cells offers the potential for restoring glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. Pancreas transplantation and the infusion of cadaveric islets are currently implemented clinically, but these approaches are limited by the adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy over the lifetime of the recipient and the limited supply of donor tissue. The latter concern may be addressed by recently described glucose-responsive mature beta cells that are derived from human embryonic stem cells (referred to as SC-β cells), which may represent an unlimited source of human cells for pancreas replacement therapy. Strategies to address the immunosuppression concerns include immunoisolation of insulin-producing cells with porous biomaterials that function as an immune barrier. However, clinical implementation has been challenging because of host immune responses to the implant materials. Here we report the first long-term glycemic correction of a diabetic, immunocompetent animal model using human SC-β cells. SC-β cells were encapsulated with alginate derivatives capable of mitigating foreign-body responses in vivo and implanted into the intraperitoneal space of C57BL/6J mice treated with streptozotocin, which is an animal model for chemically induced type 1 diabetes. These implants induced glycemic correction without any immunosuppression until their removal at 174 d after implantation. Human C-peptide concentrations and in vivo glucose responsiveness demonstrated therapeutically relevant glycemic control. Implants retrieved after 174 d contained viable insulin-producing cells.Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (Grant 3-SRA-2014-285-M-R)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grants EB000244, EB000351, DE013023, and CA151884)Tayebati Family FoundationUnited States. Dept. of Defense. Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (Grant W81XWH-13-1-0215)Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (Grant 3-2013-178