Could a parathyroid gland help cure diabetes? small trial tests Co-Transplant
NCT ID NCT03977662
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This small pilot study tested whether transplanting pancreatic islets together with parathyroid glands into the muscle could help people with type 1 diabetes stop using insulin. The 4 participants already had a functioning kidney or liver transplant and were on lifelong immunosuppression. The main goals were to check safety and see if the procedure leads to insulin independence.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Co-transplantation of pancreatic islets and parathyroid glands from a deceased donor
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a way to achieve insulin independence in people with type 1 diabetes who already have a kidney or liver transplant.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 4 participants, so results may not apply to others. The approach requires lifelong immunosuppression, which carries risks of infection and other side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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4 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2019
- Finished
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Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male and female subjects age 18 or older. 2. Subjects who are able to provide written informed consent and to comply with study procedures. 3. Clinical history compatible with Type 1 diabetes (onset \< 40 yrs old and insulin dependent for \> 5 yrs at enrollment, c-peptide negative). 4. Recipients should have absent stimulated c-peptide (\< 0.3 ng/mL) in response to a (Boost® 6 mL/kg BW to a maximum of 360 mL; another equivalent product), measured at 60 and 90 min after start of consumption. 5. Subjects who are \> 6 months post-renal transplant or \>6 months post-liver transplant who are taking appropriate calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) based maintenance immunosuppression (\[tacrolimus alone or in conjunction with sirolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, myfortic, or azathioprine; or cyclosporine in conjunction with sirolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, or myfortic ± Prednisone ≤ 10 mg/day). 6. Stable renal function as defined by a creatinine of no more than one third greater than the average creatinine determination performed in the 6 previous months prior to islet transplant, as well as absence of a rejection episode in the 6 months prior to islet transplant 7. Stable liver function tests as defined by: SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), alkaline phosphatase values \< 1.5, or total bilirubin \< 1.5 times normal upper limits at time of study entry, as well as absence of a rejection episode in the 6 months prior to islet transplant Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of donor specific anti-HLA antibodies detected by Luminex Single Antigen/specificity bead assay including weakly reactive antibodies that would not be detected by a flow cross match 2. Insulin requirement of \>1.0 IU/kg/day 3. Weight more than 100 kg or body mass index (BMI) \> 30 kg/m2. 4. Primary hyperparathyroidism OR secondary hyperparathyroidism 5. Untreated or unstable proliferative diabetic retinopathy. 6. Blood Pressure: SBP \> 180 mmHg or DBP \>100 mmHg despite treatment with antihypertensive agents. 7. Calculated GFR of ≤ 40 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the subject's measured serum creatinine and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD- EPI) equation, as well as presence of a rejection episode in the 6 months prior to islet transplant 8. Elevated liver function tests as defined by: SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), alkaline phosphatase values \> 1.5, or total bilirubin \>1.5 times normal upper limits at time of study entry, as well as presence of a rejection episode in the 6 months prior to islet transplant 9. Proteinuria (albumin/creatinine ratio or ACr \> 300mg/g) of new onset since kidney transplantation. 10. For female subjects: Positive pregnancy test, presently breast-feeding, or unwillingness to use effective contraceptive measures for the duration of the study and 4 months after discontinuation. For male subjects: intent to procreate during the duration of the study or within 4 months after discontinuation or unwillingness to use effective measures of contraception. Oral contraceptives, Norplant®, Depo- Provera®, and barrier devices with spermicide are acceptable contraceptive methods; condoms used alone are not acceptable. 11. Active infection including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, or TB. Quantiferon gold assay will be used to determine TB infection. 12. Invasive aspergillus, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis infection within 1 year prior to study entry. 13. Any history of malignancy following receiving either the kidney or liver transplant, except for completely resected squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin 14. Known active alcohol or substance abuse. 15. Severe co-existing cardiac disease, characterized by any one of these conditions: 1. Recent MI (within past 6 months), 2. Evidence of ischemia on functional cardiac exam within the last year, 3. Left ventricular ejection fraction \< 30%, 4. Valvular disease requiring replacement with prosthetic valve. 16. Active infections (except mild skin and nail fungal infections). 17. Use of any investigational agents within 4 weeks of enrollment. 18. Administration of live attenuated vaccine(s) within 2 months of enrollment. 19. Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, will interfere with safe study completion. 20. Positive screen for BK viremia at time of screening. 21. Untreated hyperlipidemia - TC \> 200 mg/dL, TGC \> 200 mg/dL, LDL \> 130 mg/dL
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of California
San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
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