Researchers at SVI have discovered that a drug called baricitinib may help people who have type 1 diabetes to produce insulin for longer after diagnosis.

The drug is expected to stop the immune system from attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This type of treatment – harnessing the immune system to treat disease – is called immunotherapy.

Baricitinib is approved around the world for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In a global first, the BANDIT (Baricitinib in new onset type 1 diabetes) trial will test baricitinib’s effectiveness for people recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

The BANDIT trial is supported by JDRF Australia and JDRF International.

 

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