Thymoglobulin is an antibody preparation that is commonly used to treat and prevent organ transplant rejection. The START trial aims to determine whether Thymoglobulin treatment can halt the progression of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes when given within 3 months of diagnosis.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Without these cells, the body cannot maintain proper blood glucose levels in response to daily activities, such as eating or exercise. Generally, at the time someone is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, not all of a person's beta cells have been destroyed - between 15-40% remain healthy and are still able to produce insulin. Importantly, even small amounts of naturally produced insulin can improve blood sugar control, make daily management of diabetes less complicated, and reduce the risk of long term complications. Preserving the remaining precious beta cells is therefore the goal of the START trial.
The medication being tested in the START trial is called Thymoglobulin®, a mixture of specialized proteins called antibodies. Thymoglobulin attaches itself to white blood cells known as T cells, some of which are responsible for the immune system's attack on beta cells that occurs in type 1 diabetes. Thymoglobulin can change how T cells work, and can eliminate a large proportion of the T cells from the bloodstream temporarily. Treatment of new onset type 1 diabetes with Thymoglobulin is therefore expected to alter the behavior of the T cells to halt their attack, and also reduce T cell numbers, so that new T cells that grow in their place will learn to accept the beta cells, rather than attacking them.
The study is currently enrolling individuals 18-30, but will be open for younger individuals in the coming months.
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