Pig cells for fighting diabetes live for ten years

According to recent reports, early diabetic trial patients in pig cell experiments conducted over a decade ago are still experiencing positive effects from the experiment. The news, confirmed by surprised scientists, could lay the foundations for long-term diabetes treatments in the future.
One patient, Mr. Michael Helyer, continued to experience insulin production from pig cells injected ten years ago. Scientists, who expected transplanted cells to survive for around six months, were understandably astonished.
Professor Bob Elliott, the founder and medical director of Living Cell Technologies, based in New Zealand, said that planned human trials could result in long-term pig cell therapy becoming more widespread.
Some countries have issued moratoriums on animal-to-human transplants, including Australia, so the trials will be conducted in New Zealand and Russia . Professor Elliot commented: “This has never been done before. It’s a profound step forward for safe, effective and long-term diabetes control.”