Type 1 Diabetes on Rise Among Youth @ WSJ (ISLT)

Islet Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: ISLT) is a development-stage biotechnology company with patented technologies focused on transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Company's transplantation technology includes methods for the culturing, isolation, maturation, and immuno-protection (microencapsulation) of islet cells. Islet Sciences’ mission includes the introduction of commercial products with applications to cell-based replacement therapy in the healthcare marketplace.

In the Wall Street Journal, Kate Linebaugh writes about a new study from the CDC showing that there has been a 23% jump in the prevalance of Type 1 diabetes among American youth. 

She writes,

"The growth in Type 1 stumps researchers who haven't been able to identify what triggers the autoimmune response or explain why an increasing number of people are afflicted. About 80% of Type 1 diabetics don't have a close relative with the disease.

'We don't know yet what is triggering diabetes or why it is increasing,' said Dana Dabelea, professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at the University of Colorado, Denver."

Researchers have several theories about the reasons behind the suddent jump:

"A leading theory known as the accelerator hypothesis suggests that greater weight gain and growth early in life puts stress on insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that sets off the autoimmune attack.

Another explanation is the so-called hygiene hypothesis, which is also linked to the rise of asthma and food allergies. Children in a modern society contend with fewer parasitic, viral and bacterial illnesses than previous generations, so the underchallenged immune system begins reacting to other stimuli in ways that are harmful." Read more at The Wall Street Journal. 

While it is undoubtedly important to try to research the possible causes of this trend, it is also important to develop new, more effective treatments for the growing population of Type 1 diabetes patients in the US. There are over 200 million diabetes sufferers in the US, and 5-10% of these patients are Type I insulin-dependent. Current treatments for Type I diabetes are palliative and require constant glucose monitoring and repeated daily insulin injections. This is a difficult regimen for responsible adults, and can be much worse for less mature patients, such as teenagers.

By contract, Islet Sciences' approach involves the transplantation of glucose-producing pancreatic islet cells, which could allow patients to become independent of injected insulin and eliminate the need for constant monitoring of their blood glucose levels. This would be especially beneficial to adolescents, who are much less likely to take their health and their treatments seriously. Read more at www.isletsciences.com. 

Islet Sciences Announces Participation at the 2012 American Transplant Congress (ISLT)

Islet Sciences, Inc., (OTCBB: ISLT) is a development-stage biotechnology company with patented technologies focused on transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Company's transplantation technology includes methods for the culturing, isolation, maturation, and immunoprotection (microencapsulation) of islet cells. The Company's mission includes the introduction of commercial products with applications to cell-based replacement therapy in the healthcare marketplace.

The company has announced that it will be presenting at the upcoming 12th Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American Transplantation (2012 American Transplant Congress).

The event will be held from June 2nd - June 6th at the John B. Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA. Islet Sciences will present an update on work with their xenotransplantation model for islet transplantation on June 5, 2012 at 5:30 PM ET. Read more at PRNewswire.com. 

Overview of the American Transplant Congress (ATC), from 2012.atcmeeting.org: 

• "To provide a forum for exchange of new scientific and clinical information relevant to solid organ and tissue transplantation.
• To create an arena for the interchange of ideas regarding care and management of organ and tissue transplant recipients.
• To facilitate discussions of the socioeconomic, ethical and regulatory issues related to solid organ and tissue transplantation.

A variety of formats are planned that will encourage the exchange of new scientific and clinical information and support an interchange of opinions regarding care and management issues, as well as socioeconomic, ethical, and regulatory issues relevant to organ and tissue transplantation.

Scientific material will be presented through symposia, oral abstracts, concurrent workshops, and poster presentations as well as small group sessions designed for in-depth exploration of both clinical and basic science topics." Read more at 2012.atcmeeting.org. 

Islet Sciences Announces Exclusive License Agreement with Yale University to Commercialize an Early Beta Cell Destruction and Diabetes Diagnostic ($ISLT)

Islet Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: ISLT) is a development-stage biotechnology company with patented technologies focused on transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Company's transplantation technology includes methods for the culturing, isolation, maturation, and immuno-protection (microencapsulation) of islet cells. Islet Sciences’ mission includes the introduction of commercial products with applications to cell-based replacement therapy in the healthcare marketplace.

 The Company announced that it has exclusively licensed technology from Yale University.

Chairman and CEO of Islet Sciences John Steel stated, 

"In the course of research conducted under Yale auspices, Dr. Kevan Herold and his colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine have developed a technology entitled 'Circulating hypomethylated B cell-derived DNA' as a biomarker of B cell destruction. We are excited to utilize this groundbreaking invention as we look to commercialize it to benefit the growing worldwide diabetic community. This test has the potential to identify beta cell death and emerging diabetes far earlier than clinical presentation."

Dr. Kevan Herold added, 

"The opportunity to identify diabetes and islet dysfunction prior to clinical presentation could be beneficial therapeutically. I am looking forward to working with Islet Sciences to commercialize this technology that clearly holds so much potential."

Clusters of beta cells form islets within the pancreas. Diminished beta/islet cell function is one of the primary causes of insulin dependent diabetes and can be caused by numerous factors. Insulin dependent diabetes is the more difficult aspect of the disease.

Jonathan Soderstrom, director of the Office of Cooperative Research at Yale commented,

"We are pleased that Islet Sciences has made the decision to invest in this discovery and look forward to developing it into a valuable new tool for treating this debilitating disease."

Read more at Yahoo Finance. 

@ BioWorld, Islet Sciences' subsidiary receives $2.1 million in grant funding (ISLT)

Islet Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: ISLT) is a development-stage biotechnology company with patented technologies focused on transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Company's transplantation technology includes methods for the culturing, isolation, maturation, and immuno-protection (microencapsulation) of islet cells. Islet Sciences’ mission includes the introduction of commercial products with applications to cell-based replacement therapy in the healthcare marketplace.

Islet Sciences was mentioned in the "Other News to Note" section of BioWorld Today, the daily biopharmaceutical news source:

"Islet Sciences Inc., of New York, said subsidiary DiaKine Therapeutics Inc. received a $2. 1 million in grant funding, comprising about $1 .83 million from the National Institutes of Health and $250,000 from the Iacocca Foundation to support its work in diabetes. Islet acquired DiaKine in a stock deal last month."

About BioWorld

BioWorld Today delivers actionable intelligence on the biotech science that drives the business, which funds the means to heal disease. With writers and editors stationed around the globe, BioWorld Today reports the breaking news -- and provides key perspective -- on hundreds of medicines in development, the companies behind those therapeutic candidates, the business development transactions that evolve the market, and the regulatory hurdles that both challenge and guard the process. Read more at BioWorld.com.

Islet Sciences Announces DiaKine Therapeutics' Novel Diabetes - $ISLT

Islet Sciences, Inc., (OTCBB: ISLT) is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of patented technologies in the field of transplantation therapy for patients with diabetes.The company is based on prior technology that originated from islet biosciences. The company is pioneering the use of porcine (pig) islet cells encapsulated in an algenate bubble and transplanted into type 1 diabetics that will then function to produce insulin. The potential of this therapy to change the diabetes paradigm could be dramatic.

Today they announced that its subsidiary DiaKine Therapeutics Inc. received European patent protection. The drugs are small molecules that can be used to treat diabetes, atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases.

The European patent (#1919867), issued on March 16, 2012, covers the composition and methods of use of orally active drugs with a novel mechanism to reduce autoimmunity and inflammation. In particular, the small molecules have the potential to protect insulin-producing cells from inflammation, reduce insulin resistance, and prevent or treat cardiovascular disease, making them ideally suited for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other conditions associated with activation of the body's Interleukin 12/STAT4 Pathway.

"Inflammation is a major link associated with the development of diabetes and its complications," said Dr. Jerry L. Nadler, the company's chief science officer and chairman of the board. "This European patent strengthens DiaKine's ability to address diabetes and to meet a medical need for the treatment other inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis and autoimmune disorders."

"This patent issuance is a clear testament to the value of our therapies which represents a large market opportunity for Islet Sciences," said John Steel, Chairman and CEO of Islet Sciences. We are pleased to announce this milestone which clearly strengthens our value proposition."

The compounds were first developed at the University of Virginia and licensed to DiaKine by the U.Va. Patent Foundation (now the U.Va. Licensing & Ventures Group) http://www.innovation.virginia.edu.

See the full press release @ Yahoo Finance