Success Story:EnduraCell™Reversing Diabetes Without Immunosuppression
Challenge
Treating insulin-dependent diabetes typically requires lifelong, twice-daily or more injections. Even with this regimen, many patients—human or animal—fail to maintain stable glucose control. Cell-based therapies using insulin-producing cells offer promise but are often limited by immune rejection and the need for systemic immunosuppression.
Solution
In a landmark preclinical study, Likarda used its proprietary EnduraCell™ hydrogel to encapsulate human insulin-producing cells and transplant them into a diabetic dog named Judy. Despite receiving high doses of insulin, Judy’s blood glucose levels remained dangerously elevated prior to treatment. Just days after receiving the first half-dose of EnduraCell™-encapsulated cells, her glucose levels began to normalize. Following a second half-dose, insulin therapy was discontinued entirely.
Outcome
Judy maintained stable blood glucose levels for over 9 months without requiring insulin injections. Importantly, she experienced no hypoglycemic events and had immune protection for the human cells without the use of immunosuppressive drugs.
Impact
This experiment not only demonstrated the potential of EnduraCell™ to deliver functional cell therapies safely and effectively—it was the foundational study that led to the creation of Likarda’s Core-Shell Spherification® (CSS®) platform. EnduraCell™ offers a new path forward in diabetes care: one that replaces injections with durable, immune-protected cell therapy.
