Its formula is based on an enzyme called glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which the over-sensitised immune system targets — and in doing so destroys the precious beta cells.
The idea was that by vaccinating patients with GAD, this would teach the immune system’s T cells to tolerate the enzyme.
The trial was carried out on 145 patients aged three to 45 years living in the United States and Canada who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes within the previous three months.
The volunteers were given either the vaccine; the vaccine plus a standard immune-system booster; or just the booster alone.
Patients in all three groups experienced similar progression in the disease, with no difference among them in side effects.
The paper, led by Jay Skyler of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was presented at a conference of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego, California.
Despite the setback, the investigators called for more research to see if the formula might work when administered sooner or as part of a combination therapy.
The number of adults with diabetes worldwide has more than doubled since 1980, with almost 350 million now affected, according to data reported earlier at the conference.
Article source: http://www.medindia.net/news/Type-1-Diabetes-Vaccine-Fails-86986-1.htm