VC-01, embryonic stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitor cells for treatment of diabetes

VC-01 may serve as a replacement endocrine pancreas, a source of insulin and other regulatory hormones, and is intended to be a potential cure for type 1 diabetes. VC-01 therapy involves a combination of PEC-01 cells, proprietary pancreatic endoderm cells derived through directed differentiation of a human embryonic stem cell line, encapsulated in the Encaptra drug delivery system, a proprietary immunoprotective and retrievable encapsulation device. The preclinical study describes implantation of insulin-producing cells, derived from human embryonic stem cells, into a standard diabetic animal model. The researchers demonstrated that the grafts differentiated and matured over time. Mature neopancreatic tissue was observed within 4-5 months of engraftment and was sufficient to protect against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia.