Canakinumab treatment for recent-onset type 1 diabeties mellitus: a multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Blocking the action of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) reduces beta-cell secretory dysfunction and apoptosis in vitro, diabetes incidence in animal models of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), and glycaemia via improved beta-cell function in patients with T2D. We hypothesised that canakinumab, a monoclonal antibody to IL-1B, improves beta-cell function in patients with new-onset T1D. Methods: In an individually randomised, two-group parallel trial involving 12 sites in US, 69 patients aged 6-45 with T1D, < 12 weeks of symptoms, and assigned by centralised computer-generated blocked randomisation with locked computer-file concealment to treatment with 2 mg/kg (maximum 300 mg) canakinumab (n=45) or placebo (n=22) monthly for 12 months as add-on to conventional therapy. Participants and care-givers, but not data monitoring unit, were masked to group assignment. The primary end-point was change in the two-hour area-under-the-curve C-peptide response to MMT 12 months.

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Cabrera SM, Wang X, Chen YG, Jia S, Kaldunski ML, Greenbaum CJ, Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Canakinumab Study Group., Mandrup-Poulsen T, AIDA Study Group., Hessner MJ