A new cell therapy trial from the University of Galway has shown encouraging results for people with type 2 diabetes and worsening kidney disease, a condition known as diabetic kidney disease (DKD).
The therapy, called ORBCEL-M, offers a potential breakthrough for patients who continue to experience declining kidney function despite receiving the best available medical treatments.
In Ireland, nearly a quarter of a million people live with diabetes, and over 40% of them show signs of kidney damage. For those with DKD, as many as one-third suffer from worsening kidney function even with optimal care.
These individuals face a high risk of needing dialysis or a kidney transplant—treatments that are complex, challenging, and carry significant risks.
The trial focused on evaluating the safety and effectiveness of ORBCEL-M. This innovative cell therapy involves a single intravenous dose administered to carefully selected adults with severe DKD. Patients were monitored closely for 18 months after receiving the treatment.
The results showed that ORBCEL-M was safe and helped preserve kidney function better than a placebo.
The therapy’s goal is to address systemic inflammation, a key driver of kidney damage in DKD. By reducing inflammation and improving kidney function, ORBCEL-M may help delay or even prevent the need for dialysis or kidney transplants in these high-risk patients.
The research team, led by Professor Matt Griffin, is encouraged by the trial’s findings. The safety profile of ORBCEL-M and its potential to slow kidney disease progression are promising signs for the future of diabetes care.
While these results are preliminary, the team plans to move forward with larger Phase 3 trials to confirm the therapy’s effectiveness and seek regulatory approval for broader use.
This study marks an important step toward new treatments for DKD, a condition that significantly impacts the quality of life for people with diabetes.
If successful in future trials, ORBCEL-M could offer hope to millions of patients worldwide who face the challenges of managing diabetes and its complications.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about high vitamin D level linked to lower dementia risk in diabetes, and green tea could help reduce death risk in diabetes.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that blueberries strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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