Advancements in type 1 diabetes treatments focus on glucagon and islet cell therapies

Developments in type 1 diabetes (T1D) treatments are focusing on both hormonal regulation and cellular therapies. Zucara Therapeutics is developing ZT-01, a selective somatostatin receptor 2 antagonist designed to address glucagon deficiency. A phase 1 study indicated that ZT-01 can restore glucagon response during induced hypoglycaemia by reducing somatostatin restraint on pancreatic alpha-cells.

Simultaneously, efforts to advance islet cell therapies are gaining momentum. A public workshop co-hosted by Breakthrough T1D and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) brought together researchers, clinicians, and FDA representatives. The goal is to accelerate the translation of cell therapies from first-generation treatments, which are currently limited to patients with severe hypoglycaemia, to next-generation, scalable manufactured versions for broader populations.