Diamyd’s Type 1 Diabetes Drug Advancing

Swedish firm Diamyd said Friday the diabetes drug it is testing showed promise in a phase 2 study in patients with type 1 diabetes.

The company said its investigational drug Diamyd showed efficacy in preserving insulin production in a clinical trial enrolling 70 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The firm noted the study showed no serious adverse events linked to the treatment.

In the phase 2 trial, 35 patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes receiving the test drug produced approximately twice as much meal-stimulated insulin — as measured by C-peptide — 15 months after the first treatment, compared to those on placebo.

This is a breakthrough, said Johnny Ludvigsson, professor of pediatrics at the University Hospital at Linkoping University in Stockholm, Sweden, and lead researcher in the eight-hospital study.

This clearly offers the potential to improve treatment of type 1 diabetes. Endogenous insulin production is very important as it helps patients to better control their disease and reduce complications.

Diamyd was given to patients in two injections, he said.