Hands On Webinar | Disease-Modifying Therapies and Cellular Therapies in Type 1 Diabetes | Recording-Disease-Modifying Therapies and Cellular Therapies in Type 1 Diabetes

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar focused on disease-modifying and cellular therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D), with an emphasis on preserving beta-cell function and preventing disease progression.<br /><br />Speakers reviewed T1D’s progression from islet autoimmunity to metabolic dysfunction and clinical diagnosis. Screening for multiple autoantibodies can identify people at high risk, including those without a family history, and may reduce diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis. Teplizumab, a two-week anti-CD3 treatment, can delay progression from stage 2 to stage 3 T1D and may preserve beta-cell function after diagnosis. The speakers discussed monitoring for Epstein–Barr virus reactivation and taking particular care with people who have trisomy 21. They also emphasized vaccination and individualized safety discussions before treatment.<br /><br />For people with newly diagnosed T1D, multiple therapies have preserved C-peptide in trials, although benefits can decline over time and effects on clinical outcomes are less certain. Earlier treatment may be more effective, but some benefit may remain after diagnosis. Even small amounts of retained C-peptide may lower the risk of severe hypoglycemia.<br /><br />The speakers described a growing pipeline of therapies, including JAK inhibitors, immune-targeted treatments, regulatory T-cell approaches, and combination regimens. They highlighted the importance of establishing optimal doses, treatment duration, and timing. Future strategies may combine immunotherapy with stem-cell-derived beta-cell replacement, though this approach remains under investigation.<br /><br />In the Q&A, panelists addressed vaccination before teplizumab, treatment windows after diagnosis, the potential value of treating people with low C-peptide, and the need for further clinical evidence on emerging cell-therapy approaches.

Keywords

type 1 diabetes

beta-cell preservation

disease-modifying therapy

cellular therapies

teplizumab

islet autoimmunity

autoantibody screening

C-peptide

immunotherapy

stem-cell-derived beta-cell replacement