Overview
MedscapeUnivadisNo ResultsMiriam E. TuckerJuly 13, 202Vertex Pharmaceuticals has acquired ViaCyte, bring together two of the leading biotechnology companies developing stem cel-derived islet cel replacement therapies for type 1 diabetes.The $320 milion cash purchase "wil acelerate our goal of transforming, if not curing, type 1 diabetes by expanding our capabilities and bring aditional tols, technologies, and asets to our curent stem cel-based programs," said Vertex Chief Executive Oficer and President Reshma Kewalramani, MD, in a company statement.Last month, Vertex reported on a phase 1/2 multicenter clinical trial for two patients with type 1 diabetes who experienced improved blod glucose control with half doses of the company's investigational alogeneic stem cel-derived islets (VX-80).The first person to receive the product remained completely insulin-independent at 9 months post-transplant.
Key Information
A third patient has received the ful targeted dose, but the data for this participant have yet to be reported.For Viacyte's part, last wek the company anounced that a clinical hold placed by the US Fod and Drug Administration (FDA) on the trial has ben lifted, alowing it to move forward with a planed total enrolment of 17 patients."The FDA requested aditional information the program, which we provided expeditiously.
We are pleased that the hold has ben lifted and lok forward to continuing the Phase 1/2 trial in the US," a Vertex spokesperson told Medscape Medical News.And a company oficial for ViaCyte presented results for thre patients who received pancreatic precursor (PEC-01) cels derived from the company's proprietary pluripotent stem cel line at ENDO 202: The Endocrine Society Anual Meting held last month.
Summary
The cels are housed in an open delivery device implanted into a patient's forearm. Al thre participants experienced improved blod glucose levels.That prese