New development: stem cells will replace the insulin syringe and cure juvenile diabetes

At the heart of the innovation that will be presented at the Biomed 2010 conference: a breakthrough technology that demonstrates how human insulin-producing beta cells can be multiplied in culture

Ramot, the technology commercialization company of Tel Aviv University, will present for the first time during a week at Biomed Israel 2010, which will be held June 14-16 in Tel Aviv, a therapeutic method based on the ability of stem cells to help cure juvenile diabetes. At the heart of the innovation: a breakthrough technology that demonstrates how human insulin-producing beta cells can be multiplied in culture. It has already been proven in laboratory experiments that the cells are able to restore and maintain normal levels of insulin. The meaning: potential for pioneering treatment that will yield insulin-producing cells for transplantation.

Behind the development is Prof. Shimon Efrat from the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and one of the leading researchers in the field of diabetes in the world. "One of the main signs of juvenile diabetes is a sharp decrease in the amount of beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin," says Prof. Efrat. "Until now, it has not been possible to regrow them and the patients need to balance the glucose levels in the blood by regular insulin injections. In extreme cases, a pancreas transplant is necessary. However, transplants are not a simple solution: organ donors are few and there is a constant danger that the body will reject the transplant."

The technology developed by Prof. Efrat makes it possible to multiply insulin-producing human beta cells in culture. In laboratory experiments Prof. Efrat showed that the cells are able to restore and maintain normal levels of insulin. The approach is groundbreaking and holds the potential for pioneering treatment that will yield insulin-producing cells for transplantation.

During the research, Prof. Efrat developed a method to "mark" beta cells originating from the human pancreas and thus monitor their reproduction and differentiation processes as well as isolate them from the total cell population and obtain a 'pure' population. With this method, Prof. Efrat found conditions in which the beta cells grow in culture and secrete insulin, this means - creating an abundant source of insulin-secreting human cells for transplantation in diabetic patients.

The commercial potential of the technology is very extensive and includes several possible directions, such as the development of the cells themselves as a treatment for diabetes by a specialized company, and the use of the cells by various companies as a tool for developing drugs against diabetes. This field was recently published in the prestigious journal Nature, which described a deal worth about 20 million dollars between the Roche company and Harvard University for the use of stem cells for the purpose of scanning materials in the drug development process.

Levels

Levels Lyd Tel Aviv University Ltd. is the technology commercialization company of Tel Aviv University. Ramot initiates and leads the transfer of the technologies developed as part of academic research, from the university laboratories to the industry, and manages all commercialization activities, from the patent protection phase to the granting of licenses to the relevant industrial entities.

ILSI- Biomed Israel 2010

a weekILSI- Biomed Israel 2010” is the main annual event of the life sciences industry in Israel. This week includes an international professional conference with the participation of the best experts (CEOs and executives of biopharma and medical device companies, scientists and researchers, entrepreneurs, researchers, public opinion shapers in the field, venture capital fund managers and private investors) from Israel and the world, and an exhibition that presents the hottest innovations . "ILSI - Biomed Israel 2010", which received international recognition and is considered the second largest conference in the world - after the USA, will be held between June 14 and 16 at the David Intercontinental in Tel Aviv.