The drug has been tested for the treatment of type 1 diabetes

A new clinical trial is being led by Cardiff University. has shown that Ustekinumab, an immunotherapy, is effective in preserving the body’s ability to produce insulin in type 1 diabetes, bringing the goal of managing type 1 diabetes without insulin one step closer.

A clinical trial tested the treatment of psoriasis in 72 adolescents aged 12 to 18 with early-onset type 1 diabetes. Researchers hope that immunotherapy will provide answers for patients in the future by acting on the body’s immune system to slow down the destruction of insulin-producing cells. This treats the underlying immune system rather than correcting insulin levels.

Ustekinumab is an injectable treatment that patients can give themselves at home and has been used effectively to treat more than 100,000 patients with autoimmune diseases, including severe psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, severe Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. sore throat

This study shows that Ustekinumab can also treat insulin-producing cells. Researchers are also identifying the specific immune cells that cause this destruction, allowing for precise, targeted treatments to maximize benefits and minimize side effects.

Ustekinumab use has been shown to reduce the destructive effect of Th17 immune cells on insulin-producing cells. After 12 months of using Ustekinumab, researchers found that C-peptide levels (a marker that the body is making insulin) were 49% higher. Clinical research also provides evidence based on the first clinical trial for the role of Th17 cells in type 1 diabetes.

While the trial shows the benefit of using Ustekinumab to treat type 1 diabetes, further clinical trials are needed to confirm this finding and determine which patients will benefit the most from the treatment.

The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.