Overview

• The University of Queensland has initiated a world-first clinical trial of ASITI-201, an immunotherapy targeting the autoimmune cause of type 1 diabetes.
• Five adult participants have received the drug at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, with plans to enroll 36 in a blinded, multi-dose safety study including placebo controls.
• ASITI-201 combines pancreatic protein fragments and vitamin D to calm the immune system and protect insulin-producing beta cells from destruction.
• Preclinical studies demonstrated the drug’s efficacy in controlling type 1 diabetes in mice, paving the way for human trials.
• If successful, this therapy could reduce or eliminate the need for lifelong insulin injections and potentially prevent disease progression.