Breakthrough T1D envisions a world where the burden of type 1 diabetes (T1D) no longer exists.
It’s a world where people don’t have to manage their diabetes—don’t take insulin, don’t wear devices, don’t have blood sugar highs and lows, and don’t develop complications. That’s how we define cures for type 1 diabetes, and there are three ways we can get to cures faster:
Cell therapies
What are cell therapies?
In people with T1D, the immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin. One known way to cure T1D is through cell therapies, which replace destroyed beta cells with external cells that make insulin and protect them so that they can function for a very long time.
What work is Breakthrough T1D doing in this area?
117
Number of preclinical cell therapies research projects we are supporting
5
Number of cell therapies clinical trials we are supporting
We are funding research to:
- Develop a renewable beta cell source so that every person with T1D who wants this treatment can get it.
- Find ways to maintain these beta cells so they stay functional in the body for years—or even decades.
- Shield these beta cells from immune attack to prevent the need for anti-rejection immunosuppressants or the recurrence of T1D.
What does the future hold for cell therapies?
Our ultimate goal is large-scale cell therapies with the fewest side effects possible, accessible by anyone with T1D who wants them. Our Project ACT initiative will get us there faster than ever. We believe that, in the future, these therapies will create a path for people with T1D to walk away from the condition for good.
Project ACT
Scientific progress takes time, resources, collaborations, and effort. To get cell replacement therapies to people with T1D faster than ever, Breakthrough T1D launched Project ACT (Accelerate Cell Therapies) to simultaneously advance research, development, regulatory policies, access, and adoption of manufactured islet therapies that do not require broad immunosuppression.
Early detection
What is early detection?
Type 1 diabetes doesn’t show up overnight (even though for many people it feels like it does). The condition develops in stages over time:
From a therapy perspective, early detection is important for identifying people who could benefit from the FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy Tzield, which can delay T1D progression for years.
From a research perspective, early detection can open doors to research opportunities, like clinical trials of other disease-modifying therapies in development.
From the clinical perspective, early detection can prevent complications at diagnosis, like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and help families and individuals prepare for T1D onset.
Screening is done through a simple blood test to detect T1D autoantibodies, which signal that the immune system may be attacking the body’s insulin-producing cells.
What work is Breakthrough T1D doing in this area?
52
Number of preclinical early detection research projects we are supporting
26
Number of early detection clinical trials we are supporting
Through our Advocacy and Medical Affairs efforts, we are:
- Supporting the SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act
- Leading a campaign to expand access to early detection of T1D in the United States
- Providing accredited education and resources on T1D and early detection to healthcare professionals
What does the future hold for early detection of type 1 diabetes?
We expect to improve ways to detect T1D early and prevent it from advancing by attaining a better understanding of the natural progression of T1D, which may include additional biomarkers for the condition. We will continue to expand access to early detection and find ways to improve the standard of care for early-stage T1D.
Disease-modifying therapies
What are disease-modifying therapies?
T1D is a progression. At earlier stages, the immune system has begun attacking the insulin-producing beta cells, but people are not symptomatic yet. Some people at later stages have had T1D for decades and have lost nearly all insulin production. Disease-modifying therapies, or DMTs, are aimed at helping everyone with T1D—regardless of where they are on the disease continuum—to slow, halt, prevent, or reverse the condition.
What is Breakthrough T1D doing in this area?
138
Number of preclinical disease-modifying therapy research projects we are supporting
16
Number of disease-modifying therapies clinical trials we are supporting
We recently published research on the importance of C-peptide—a biomarker for insulin production—as a key measure of how effective a DMT is in clinical trials. Use of C-peptide will be essential to speeding up development and approval of new DMTs—getting potential cures to people with T1D faster.
What does the future hold for disease-modifying therapies?
As we see more DMT clinical trials advance to later-stage human testing, we expect to see additional DMTs submitted for regulatory approval—giving people with T1D more options.
Improving Lives
Cures for type 1 diabetes are coming down the pipeline. While we look forward to their arrival, Breakthrough T1D is improving the lives of people with T1D today.
