Encapsulated Living Cells For Diabetes: The Final Push?

Lilly has linked up with US biotech Sigilon Therapeutics to develop encapsulated cell therapies for diabetes, a second "living therapeutics" approach to the condition to attract funding in the past six months.  

Injection
Injections may eventually be replaced by implanted living cells • Source: Shutterstock

Research efforts to develop a living-cell based approach to the treatment of type 1 diabetes have been galvanized by a global strategic collaboration between diabetes heavyweight Eli Lilly & Co. and US biotech Sigilon Therapeutics that includes a large upfront of $63m for the small start-up, and milestone payments.

News of the Lilly/Sigilon collaboration, released on Apr. 4, comes just months after another US biotech active in the living therapeutics field, Semma Therapeutics Inc

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