New Diabetes Vaccine To Be Trialed

Scientists in the United Kingdom have been working on a possible vaccine to prevent Type 1 diabetes in people who are at high risk. Type 1 diabetes is caused by destruction of the pancreas cells that produce insulin. Insulin is what helps the body break down glucose for energy. Without insulin, blood glucose levels rise to dangerous levels and coma or death results, unless insulin is administered, usually by injection. People with Type 1 must inject themselves with insulin everyday, usually several times a day.

Type 1 strikes children, young adults and adults to about age 40. It is thought that the destruction of the pancreas cells is an autoimmune response, possibly due to a virus. The new vaccine contains a protein that helps the production of protective immune cells to block the attack against the pancreas.

King's College London and Bristol University will begin human trials in Spring of 2007. They have already recruited patients with diabetes for the study. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is also assisting with volunteer recruitment of people who have a high risk of getting diabetes, if this vaccine trial proves to be successful.

Dr. Colin Dayan from the University of Bristol, co-team leader for the trial, has said, "It will be of help for people who have just been diagnosed. It might stop their insulin-producing cells from deteriorating further. Then, if it proves to be very safe, we would think about using it in people who are at high risk of developing Type 1 diabetes."

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and the Diabetes Vaccine Development Centre in Melbourne, Australia are funding the trials.