Lisofylline

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system does not identify part of the body as belonging to it. The immune system then destroys that part as if it were an unknown tissue in the body. In T1DM, the body kills the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body. It allows glucose to enter and fuel them. Special cells in the body called islets make the insulin. Since glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the blood. The body's cells literally starve to death. Children are at risk of developing T1DM and the risk is much higher than other severe, chronic childhood diseases. The only treatments are a careful diet, planned physical activity, and testing blood sugar levels several times a day. The patient must also inject insulin each day or use an insulin pump. There is no cure for T1DM. Insulin injections are considered life support, because going without insulin for just a few days causes the blood to have too much acid in it and that can lead to death. On the other hand, taking too much insulin makes blood sugar levels go too low, and if untreated, can lead to death as well.
DiaKine is developing Lisofylline to treat the failed immune system. This is what caused T1DM in the first place and it does not go away. The purpose of this study is to see how safe the study drug is. The study is also going to compare the levels of study drug in the blood and to measure the effect of the study drug on other substances in the blood that are linked to type 1 diabetes. These levels will be measured after the study drug is given as an injection under the skin and an injection into the vein. To date, Lisofylline has been tested when given as an injection in the vein.
The investigators hypothesize that Lisofylline will be safe when given as an injection under the skin and in the vein and that levels of study drug will be very similar when given as an injection under the skin and in the vein.
The investigators also hypothesize that Lisofylline will have a positive effect on the substances in the blood that are linked to type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, resulting in poor blood sugar control. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of islet transplantation, combined with immunosuppressive medications and medications to support islet survival, for treating type 1 diabetes in individuals experiencing hypoglycemia unawareness and severe hypoglycemic episodes.