Benzinga | Oct 18, 2021 05:46PM EDT

Vertex Unveils First Patient Results On Potential Diabetes Treatment

* Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) has announced Day 90 data for the first patient from the Phase 1/2 trial of VX-880 for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

* VX-880 is an investigational stem cell-derived, fully differentiated pancreatic islet cell replacement therapy.

* The patient, who had suffered five potentially life-threatening hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes in the year before the therapy, was injected with synthetic insulin-producing cells.

* After 90 days, the patient's new cells produced insulin steadily and ramped up their insulin production.

* The patient's HbA1c, a metric for blood sugar levels, dropped from an average of 8.4% to 7.2%.

* Most notably, the patient needed just three units of insulin per day compared to 34 units before treatment, a 91% reduction.

* There were no serious adverse events considered related to VX-880, and most of the adverse events were considered mild to moderate.

* Vertex is also progressing IND-enabling studies for its encapsulated islet cell program and plans to file an IND in 2022.

* Related: Vertex Inks Potential $1.2B Gene-Editing Pact With Arbor Biotechnologies.

* Price Action: VRTX shares closed lower 0.53% at $180.80 on Monday.