ViaCyte, Inc., a privately-held regenerative medicine company, and Beyond Type 1, a not-for-profit advocacy and education group for those living with type 1 diabetes, today announced a grant from Beyond Type 1 to support ViaCyte’s efforts to develop a functional cure for type 1 and other insulin-requiring diabetes. 

For more than a decade, ViaCyte has been developing innovative stem cell-derived cell replacement therapies with a focus on the treatment of insulin-requiring diabetes.  The Company’s pluripotent stem cell-derived islet cell replacement therapy, the PEC-Direct product candidate, has the potential to be a breakthrough treatment for high-risk type 1 diabetes.  The PEC-Direct product candidate is expected to begin clinical trials this year and is likely to be the Company’s first approved product.  

ViaCyte’s PEC-Encap (also known as VC-01) product candidate delivers the same cell therapy as the PEC-Direct product candidate but in a delivery device designed to protect the cells from the patient’s immune system, and therefore will not require immunosuppressant drugs commonly used for organ and tissue transplants.  The PEC-Encap product candidate is being developed to treat all patients with diabetes who use insulin to control their disease.  Preliminary clinical results with the PEC-Encap product candidate have provided early indications of the potential of the approach.  

“Beyond Type 1 views ViaCyte’s products as potentially game-changing for those currently suffering with type 1 diabetes, and seeks to promote their continued safe and efficient development,” said Sarah Lucas, Co-Founder and CEO of Beyond Type 1.  “ViaCyte’s mission to create a functional cure for type 1 diabetes is well-aligned with Beyond Type 1’s goals, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to support them and facilitate the rapid development of their promising product candidates for type 1 diabetes.” 

Beyond Type 1 seeks to make a better life for people living with type 1 diabetes.  One hundred percent of operational costs for Beyond Type 1 are covered by Leadership and Founding Friends, so that all funds donated to Beyond Type 1 can be used to directly support the portfolio of partner organizations. 

“ViaCyte has a history of working with patient advocacy groups, such as JDRF and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and Beyond Type 1 represents a new and exciting platform to help connect patients to product development,” said Paul Laikind, PhD, President and CEO of ViaCyte.  “We are tremendously grateful for the financial and social support that Beyond Type 1 is providing to ViaCyte as we work to create a functional cure for people with type 1 diabetes.”