The October issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reported a Swedish study that used glutamic acid dehydrogenase (GAD) as a vaccine for Type I Diabetes. Seventy adolescents, who had developed Type I Diabetes in the past six months, received two injections of GAD-alum. Following these injections, insulin secretion in these adolescents was reported to be preserved. Insulin secretion continued to decline in persons receiving the GAD-alum injections over two and one-half years, but at a lesser rate than those receiving placebo injections.

In Type I Diabetes auto-antibodies have been found to be produced to glutamic acid dehydrogenase, as well as to insulin. By injecting the GAD-alum, researchers hoped to develop an immune tolerance for these auto-antibodies. Johnny Ludvigsson, MD, PhD, of Linkoping University in Sweden describes this study as a first step in using GAD to treat Type I diabetes. The researchers emphasize the need for longer, continuous studies prior to marketing this strategy.

Source: Hitti, M. (October 8, 2008) New Drug May Help Treat Type 1 Diabetes: 'GAD' Treatment May Help Preserve Insulin Secretion in Newly Diagnosed Patients. WebMD. Diabetes Health Center. Available athttp://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20081008/type-1-diabetes-new-drug-shows-promise. Accessed Novmeber 18, 2008.

Additional information: Ludvigsson J, Faresjo M, Hjorth M, Axelsson S, Cheramy M, Pihl M, Vaarala O, Forsander G, Ivarsson S, Johansson C, Lindh A, Nilsson NO, Aman J, Ortqvist E, Zerhouni P, Casas R. GAD treatment and insulin secretion in recent-onset type 1 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;359(18):1909-1920.