Summary
The new follow-up study is investigating whether genetically engineered insulin-producing cells can survive and function without the need for chronic immunosuppression.
The results show that the transplanted hypoimmune islet cells remained detectable and functional for more than a year.
These findings provide an important proof of concept for next-generation cell replacement therapies that could potentially eliminate the need for lifelong immunosuppression.
The New England Journal of Medicine, 2026:
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2604408
Feature at The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR):
https://www.isscr.org/isscr-news/new-first-in-human-study-presented-at-isscr-2026-explores-immune-engineered-cell-therapy-approach-for-type-1-diabetes
First publication:
The New England Journal of Medicine, 2025:
https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2503822