A drug used for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis could slow the development of newly discovered type 1 diabetes, according to new research.
A study published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that Mabthera (rituximab) could interfere with the body's destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
The treatment worked at first and the body produced more insulin. But over time, the effects faded, and insulin production began to decline at the same rate as among people who received placebo.
"A four-dose course of rituximab partially preserved beta-cell function over a period of one year in patients with type 1 diabetes," the authors wrote.
"The finding that B lymphocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes may open a new pathway for exploration in the treatment of patients with this condition."