Pig cells and potential diabetes cure found to be safe for humans

A company trialling an effective cure for type 1 diabetes has provided a clear safety and tolerance review. The company, based in New Zealand, has found a way to transplant functional pig cells that produce insulin into humans. Eight people who underwent the procedure in Russia were studied.
The founder and medical director of Living Cell Technologies Ltd, Professor Bob Elliot, was reported as commenting: “We are pleased that our treatment has shown so far to be safe and well tolerated. We are encouraged that we have demonstrated (the transplant treatment) may be safely administered up to three times and that we have seen evidence of continuing efficacy.”
Six of the patients had improved their diabetes control, with two able to temporarily stop insulin injections all together. Not one of the patients has showed any evidence of a pig-related disease. The results will be presented to the American Diabetes Association in June.