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Humacyte, JDRF collaborating to develop insulin-producing biovascular pancreas to treat Type 1 Diabetes

April 27, 2023

NEW YORK, N.Y. and DURHAM, N.C., April 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Humacyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUMA), a biotechnology company pioneering the development and manufacturing of off-the-shelf, universally implantable bioengineered human tissues and organ systems, and JDRF International (JDRF), the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, today announced a new collaboration to advance the development of Humacyte’s Biovascular Pancreas (BVP) product candidate.

Humacyte’s BVP is designed to deliver insulin-producing islets using Humacyte’s investigational tissue-engineered blood vessel, the Human Acellular Vessel™ (HAV™). JDRF will provide Humacyte with funding to support the development and testing of the BVP.

“We are proud to be collaborating with JDRF, one of the leading organizations in the world focused on T1D research,” said Dr. Laura Niklason, founder and CEO of Humacyte. “Humacyte’s HAV technology, combined with insulin-producing islets, may constitute a groundbreaking development in the treatment of T1D in the future. Successful development of the BVP could improve the lives of millions of patients, and their families, who are suffering with this chronic and debilitating disease.”

“JDRF is committed to supporting the development of cell replacement therapies that could one day offer cures for type 1 diabetes,” said Esther Latres, JDRF vice president of research. “Through the successful replacement of lost or damaged insulin-producing cells, Humacyte’s Biovascular Pancreas has the potential to solve roadblocks in the delivery of insulin-producing cells, and change the lives of those living with the disease. We’re excited to support the ongoing development of this technology.”

The BVP would enable the delivery and survival of insulin-producing islets inside the body, using Humacyte’s bioengineered HAV as a “carrier” for delivery of the islets into the patient. Such technology could overcome many of the hurdles currently associated with implantation of islets into diabetic patients, increasing the effectiveness of treating T1D patients with islet cells. The HAV and BVP are investigational products and have not been approved for sale by the Food and Drug Administration or any international regulatory agency.