A nurse from London, Ontario is among the first known patients with Type 1 diabetes to discontinue insulin use following a single dose of manufactured stem cells. Amanda Smith, 36, received the treatment as part of a clinical trial studying Zimislecel (formerly VX-880), an investigational therapy developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
The therapy involves infusing lab-grown stem cells into the liver, where they are designed to mature into islet cells—specialized pancreatic cells responsible for regulating blood sugar by producing insulin and other hormones. In Smith’s case, the treatment appears to have stabilized her blood sugar levels for nearly two years without the need for daily insulin injections.
According to a peer-reviewed study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 10 of the 12 participants in the trial remained off insulin for at least one year, and all saw a reduction in hypoglycemic episodes.
Researchers say these results mark a significant step toward the long-standing goal of using regenerative medicine to address insulin-dependent diabetes. The therapy offers a potential alternative to donor-based islet cell transplants, which are limited by availability.
Still, experts emphasize that this is an early-stage study, and more research is needed to refine the approach, improve safety, and ultimately develop versions of the therapy that do not require immunosuppression.
