In an article published in the journal Diabetologia, the authors, Craig Beam, Colleen MacCallum, Kevan Herold, Diane Wherrett, Jerry Palmer and Johnny Ludvigsson, confirm that a meta-analysis show a scientific statistical support that the GAD-based diabetes vaccine Diamyd® administered twice, with a high probability reduces the loss of C-peptide by 15-20% after approximately one year.
The article "GAD vaccine reduces insulin loss in recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes: findings from a Bayesian meta-analysis" has been published on the website of Diabetogia (www.diabetologia-journal.org) and is available via the link http: //link.springer. com / article / 10.1007 / s00125-016-4122-1
About Diamyd® and combination trials
Type 1 diabetes is a devastating disease which requires daily treatment with insulin to sustain life. The importance of finding a cure should not be underestimated. The diabetes vaccine Diamyd® has been used in clinical studies with more than 1,000 patients and has shown a good safety profile. In a European Phase III trial Diamyd® showed good clinical effect in several subgroups, and a limited overall 16% efficacy (p=0.10) in preserving endogenous insulin secretion. Subsequent development is focused on combination trials to enhance efficacy. Diamyd® is easy to administer in any clinical setting. The potential annual market is estimated to several billion dollars per year.
Six researcher initiated clinical trials are ongoing combining Diamyd® with various other immunomodulatory compounds; etanercept, ibuprofen, vitamin D and GABA.
- DIABGAD-1 – COMBINING Diamyd® WITH IBUPROFEN AND VITAMIN D
A placebo-controlled trial, where Diamyd® is being tested in combination with ibuprofen and vitamin D. The trial comprises a total of 64 patients between the ages of 10 and 18, recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and will continue for a total of 30 months. The aim of the combination treatment is to preserve the body’s own capacity to produce insulin. The trial runs at nine clinics in Sweden and is led by Professor Johnny Ludvigsson at Linköping University, Sweden. 30 month results from the trial are expected during the first quarter of 2017.
- DIAGNODE-1 –Diamyd® IN LYMPH GLANDS IN COMBINATION WITH VITAMIN D
An open label trial, where Diamyd® is administered directly into lymph nodes in combination with treatment with vitamin D. The trial comprises fifteen patients between the ages of 12 and 30 newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and will continue for a total of 30 months. The aim of the trial is to evaluate the safety of the combination treatment and the effect on the immune system and the patients’ insulin producing capacity. The trial is led by Professor Johnny Ludvigsson at Linköping University, Sweden. The first patient was included in the trial in February 2015.
- GABA/Diamyd® – COMBINING Diamyd® WITH GABA
A placebo-controlled trial, where Diamyd® is being tested in combination with GABA. In accordance with agreement with Jansen Research & Development and JDRF the trial was recently expanded to comprise 95 patients between the ages of 4 and 18 recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The trial will continue for a total of 12 months. The aim of the combination treatment is to preserve the body’s residual capacity to produce insulin. The trial is led by Dr. Alexandra Martin at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. The first patient was included in the trial in March 2015.
- EDCR IIa – COMBINING Diamyd® WITH ETANERCEPT AND VITAMIN D
An open label trial, where Diamyd® is combined with etanercept and vitamin D. The trial comprises 20 patients between the ages of 8 and 18 who have been newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and will continue for a total of 30 months. The aim of the trial is to evaluate the safety of the combination treatment and the effect on the immune system and the patients’ insulin producing capacity. The trial is led by Professor Johnny Ludvigsson at Linköping University, Sweden. All patients were included in September 2016 and 6 month results are expected during the second quarter of 2017.
A placebo-controlled trial, where Diamyd® is being tested in children at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes, meaning that they have been found to have an ongoing autoimmune process but do not yet have any clinical symptoms of diabetes. A total of 50 participants from the age of four have been enrolled in the trial, which will last for five years. The aim of the trial is to evaluate whether Diamyd® can delay or prevent the participants from presenting with type 1 diabetes. The trial is led by Dr. Helena Elding Larsson at Lund University, Sweden. Five year results are expected during the first quarter of 2017.
- DiAPREV-IT 2 – COMBINING Diamyd® WITH VITAMIN D
A placebo-controlled trial, where Diamyd® is being tested in combination with vitamin D in children at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes, meaning that they have been found to have an ongoing autoimmune process but do not yet have any clinical symptoms of diabetes. A total of 80 participants between the ages of 4 and 18 will be enrolled in the trial, which will last for five years. The aim of the trial is to evaluate whether Diamyd® can delay or prevent the participants from presenting with type 1 diabetes. The trial is led by Dr. Helena Elding Larsson at Lund University, Sweden. The first patient was included in March 2015.
About Diamyd Medical
Diamyd Medical is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and other serious inflammatory diseases through pharmaceutical development and investments in stem cell and medical technology.
Diamyd Medical develops the diabetes vaccine Diamyd®, an antigen-specific immunotherapy based on the exclusively licensed GAD-molecule. At this time six clinical studies are ongoing with Diamyd®. GABA constitutes alongside with the diabetes vaccine a key asset in Diamyd Medical and the Company uses its GABA in-licensed technology to develop a proprietary GABA drug product. Diamyd Medical is one of the major shareholders in the stem cell company Cellaviva AB (changing name to NextCellPharma AB). Diamyd Medical also has holdings in the medtech company Companion Medical, Inc., San Diego, USA and in the gene therapy company Periphagen, Inc., Pittsburgh, USA.
Diamyd Medical’s B-share is traded on Nasdaq Stockholm First North under the ticker DMYD B. Remium Nordic AB is the Company’s Certified Adviser.