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Gene-edited cells that evade rejection show promise in type 1 diabetes

Insulin-producing cells injected into a man with type 1 diabetes have survived for a month so far without the need for immune suppression

By Michael Le Page

10 January 2025

A transmission electron micrograph of a section through pancreas tissue, showing cells that produce insulin

STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Alamy

The first human trial of insulin-producing cells that have been gene-edited to evade immune attack is a success so far. The cells have survived and produced insulin for a month after being injected into a 42-year-old man with type 1 diabetes early in December.

As a precaution, only a small number of insulin-producing beta cells were injected into a forearm muscle in this initial test, so the man still needs insulin injections. It also remains to be seen how long the…

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