Scientists from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology studied the effect of a combination of anti-CD3 antibody and proinsulin peptide as therapy against Type-1 diabetes and found that in mice, the combination more efficient longer-lasting effects and less side effects than when used individually. The researchers hope to conduct human clinical trials later this year, pending regulatory approval.

The anti-CD3 antibody has been shown to temporarily reverse recent onset human type 1 diabetes in two independent clinical trials. The reversal was maintained for more than a year. "This combination approach is worth evaluating in human type 1 diabetes to increase both the overall efficacy of the treatment and the duration of the beneficial effect."

According to the researchers, if proven effective in humans, this could potentially replace the current insulin-injection treatments, thus preventing complications arising from type 1 diabetes such as kidney failure, adult blindness, or cases needing amputations. The study is described in a paper published online at the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

More about the combinatorial therapy against type-1 diabetes from LIAI.