Volume 30, Issue 5 pp. 405-414
Research Article

GAD-treatment of children and adolescents with recent-onset type 1 diabetes preserves residual insulin secretion after 30 months

Johnny Ludvigsson

Corresponding Author

Johnny Ludvigsson

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

Pediatric clinic, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden

Correspondence to: Johnny Ludvigsson, Department of Clinical Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University Hospital, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden.

E-mail: [email protected]

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Mikael Chéramy

Mikael Chéramy

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

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Stina Axelsson

Stina Axelsson

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

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Mikael Pihl

Mikael Pihl

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

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Linda Åkerman

Linda Åkerman

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

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Rosaura Casas

Rosaura Casas

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

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for the clinical GAD-study group in Sweden

for the clinical GAD-study group in Sweden

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First published: 03 December 2013
Citations: 36
Trial registration: Phase II trial; NCT00435981, Phase III trial; NCT00723411.

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to analyse data from two different studies (phase II and phase III) regarding the safety and efficacy of treatment with alum formulated glutamic acid decarboxylase GAD65 (GAD-alum) at 30 months after administration to children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

The phase II trial was a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled study, including 70 children and adolescents who were followed for 30 months. Participants received a subcutaneous injection of either 20 µg of GAD-alum or placebo at baseline and 1 month later. During a subsequent larger European phase III trial including three treatment arms, participants received two or four subcutaneous injections of either 20 µg of GAD-alum and/or placebo at baseline, 1, 3 and 9 months. The phase III trial was prematurely interrupted at 15 months, but of the 148 Swedish patients, a majority completed the 21 months follow-up, and 45 patients completed the trial at 30 months. Both studies included GAD65 auto-antibodies-positive patients with fasting C-peptide ≥0.10 nmol/l. We have now combined the results of these two trials.

Results

There were no treatment related adverse events. In patients treated with 2 GAD-alum doses, stimulated C-peptide area under the curve had decreased significantly less (9 m: p < 0.037; 15 m: p < 0.032; 21 m: p < 0.003 and 30 m: p < 0.004), and a larger proportion of these patients were also able to achieve a peak stimulated C-peptide >0.2 nmol/L (p < 0.05), as compared with placebo.

Conclusion

Treatment with two doses of GAD-alum in children and adolescents with recent-onset type 1 diabetes shows no adverse events and preserves residual insulin secretion. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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