How refreshing would it be to learn that a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory protein could prove to be highly effective in helping arresting the autoimmune attack causing type 1 diabetes?  I’d say it not only refreshing but it’s  revitalizing to the already long-standing and safe drug alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT).

Omni Bio Pharmaceutical  was issued the “Diabetes Patent” by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to expire in May 2022. This patent claims a method for treating diabetes by administering an effective amount of Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) or a derivative.

The company has a clinical trial to show the effects of AAT on the progression of type 1 diabetes. One of the qualifications of participants in the trials is that they have detectable c-peptide. This is definitely a good way to measure if you are able to sustain or protect the beta cells from further attack. When the body makes insulin – it makes connecting peptide (c-peptide). The study began in March 2011. The effects of the drug will be evaluated over a 2 year period. Fingers crossed the AAT approach is more successful than the GAD approach attempted by Diamyd, Macrogenics, ToleRX, and Bayhill.

Diabetes is non-denominational, non-commercial, non-political and non-sensical, like SantaCon. If vision of a better means of controlling diabetes is what you seek – maybe a new applications for an old drug might produce merriment in the air