1) Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by either the body's inability to produce insulin (Type 1) or cells becoming resistant to insulin (Type 2). It affects over 23 million Americans and costs over $174 billion per year in the US. 2) Regenerative medicine approaches for diabetes include stem cell therapies to preserve insulin-producing beta cells and protect them from immune system rejection. There are also 24 clinical trials testing stem cell therapies for diabetes. 3) Regenerative medicine holds promise for treating many diseases by repairing and regenerating damaged tissues and organs through cell-based therapies and other approaches.

1. Alliance for Regenerative Medicine - Disease Spotlight
Disease Facts:
Description:
+ Impaired insulin-
Diabetes
producing cells in the + A Chronic, Costly Disease
pancreas cause a
dangerous build up of Type 1 diabetes mellitus, also injected to be effective, and allowing the body to retain some of
known as insulin-dependent or patients often have to take 2-4 its ability to produce insulin and
glucose in the
juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune insulin injections per day using regulate glucose. These approaches
bloodstream disorder in which the immune different types of insulin depending include using infusions of cells from
system attacks and destroys the on their current blood glucose a patient’s own umbilical cord
Patients: insulin-producing beta cells in the levels. Insulin therapy and constant blood—which contains restorative
+ 23 million Americans pancreas. This leaves little or no monitoring is time-consuming, stem cells—to preserve beta cell
(Types 1 and 2) insulin to transport glucose to cells, costly, and painful to many function in children with Type 1
+ Patient population leading to a dangerous buildup of patients. Some Type 2 patients also diabetes. Another therapy focuses
forecasted to increase by glucose in the bloodstream. Type 2 rely on insulin therapy, but the on infusing patients with donated
diabetes is caused by cells condition can mostly be managed mesenchymal stem cells
20 million by 2034
becoming resistant to the action of with other diabetes medications, (multipotent cells extracted from
insulin. Over time, the pancreas healthy eating, and exercise. Health connective tissue) to protect insulin
Economic Cost:
becomes unable to make enough care costs for people suffering producing beta cells from rejection
+ $174 billion in direct and
insulin and glucose accumulates in from diabetes are 2-3 times higher by the immune system. There is also
indirect costs to US the bloodstream in the same than for people without the promising early stage research
economy in 2007 manner as Type 1 diabetes. This disease. As of 2007, the total focused on regenerating beta cells
+ 1 in 1o healthcare results in a chronic condition that disease burden for diabetes entirely as a long-term cure to the
dollars can be attributed requires constant monitoring and exceeded $174 billion in the United disease.
to diabetes creates dangerous and debilitating States alone. Additionally, the
secondary conditions. Long-term In addition to these significant
number of Americans afflicted with
complications include increased risk steps toward permanently treating
RM and Diabetes: diabetes is forecasted to increase
of cardiovascular problems such as diabetes, there are also
+ 6 companies with active from 24 million to 44 million by
coronary artery disease, heart regenerative medicine therapies
2034. This growth in the patient
diabetes programs attack and stroke. Other currently on the market to treat
population is expected to increase
complications include nerve DFUs, a very common and serious
direct economic costs to $336
+ 6 non-academic clinical damage in the limbs, kidney failure, co-morbidity of diabetes. Some of
billion by 2034, including sizable
trials ongoing or blindness, and nerve damage in the the most promising advanced
projected increases in diabetes-
feet and legs that can cause treatments are bioengineered living
completed focusing on use related spending by Medicare.
diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) which, if skin equivalents, which are
of mesenchymal, There are currently 24 clinical trials produced by two Alliance member
hematopoietic, embryonic, not treated properly, can lead to
amputation. focusing on the use of stem cell companies (Advanced BioHealing
or adipose-derived cells technologies for treating both Type and Organogenesis), and can assist
Over 23 million Americans suffer 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Some of the in restoring damaged tissue and
+ 14 clinical trials from diabetes – with 90% of the most innovative research is being support the body's healing
patient population being afflicted funded by the Juvenile Diabetes process. With the serious risks of
sponsored by academic
with Type 2, also known as adult Research Foundation (JDRF), a diabetes and alarming forecasts of
institutions
onset diabetes. This number is member of the Alliance. JDRF is increasing incidence, utilizing these
expected to increase due to a rise in working with groups including approved therapies — and fostering
obesity and as well as other factors. Viacyte, Osiris Therapeutics, those still in development — will be
Current treatments for Type 1 researchers at the University of key to controlling costs and
diabetes include constant Florida, and the National Institutes combating this widespread and
monitoring of blood glucose levels of Health to develop new therapies dangerous disease.
The Alliance for and insulin therapy. Insulin must be to preserve beta cell function,
Regenerative Medicine
(ARM) was formed to
advance regenerative + Regenerative Medicine—In Brief
medicine by representing
What is regenerative medicine? tissue and renew biologic products addressing many more
and supporting the
community of companies, Regenerative medicine (RM) is a function in the body is what conditions advancing in clinical
academic research rapidly evolving interdisciplinary distinguishes RM from other trials. RM holds the promise of
institutions, patient field in health care that trans- types of treatments and brings treating a broad range of dis-
advocacy groups, lates fundamental knowledge in new hope for dramatically eases that collectively represent
foundations, and other biology, chemistry and physics improving clinical outcomes and a substantial burden to our
organizations before the into materials, devices, systems curing disease. healthcare system, including
Congress, federal agencies and therapeutic strategies, What diseases can RM treat?
acute and chronic conditions
and the general public. including cell-based therapies, such as diabetes, congestive
RM products are currently on
which augment, repair, replace heart failure, Parkinson’s
the market for the treatment of
For more information, or regenerate organs and disease, stroke, renal disease,
wounds, cartilage defects, and
please visit us online at: tissues. The ability to repair spinal cord injury, and ALS.
diabetic foot ulcers, with
www.alliancerm.org