Sernova Announces U.S. Phase I/II Cell Pouch Clinical Trial with Prominent Diabetes Clinical Investigator

Sernova (TSX-V:SVA)  announces Dr. Piotr Witkowski, M.D., Ph.D., a leading expert in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and islet transplantation, as the Clinical Trial Principal Investigator for Sernova’s new clinical study. Dr Witkowski, at the University of Chicago site, will work closely with Sernova’s team to conduct the clinical and regulatory aspects of the Cell Pouch trial.

As quoted in the press release:

Dr. Witkowski is a widely published diabetes researcher and respected surgeon with a longstanding record of success in both basic science and clinical research pertaining to islet cell and abdominal organ transplantation. Among other accomplishments, he was instrumental in developing an optimized islet isolation technique that greatly improved success in clinical transplants. Under Dr. Witkowski’s leadership, multidisciplinary research teams at the University of Chicago are currently conducting several studies designed to improve the quality and outcomes of islet cell transplantation in patients with T1D.

“Sernova’s achievement to commence US human clinical trials is a key step to improving the therapeutic treatment for people living with diabetes. This Cell Pouch safety and efficacy trial aims to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia unawareness, a complication in which a patient is unable to recognize and control impending hypoglycemia resulting in a drop in blood sugar that can have life threatening consequences,” said Dr. Witkowski. “Our experienced diabetes treatment team at the University of Chicago sees the potential of this transformative therapy to benefit and substantially improve the care of T1D.”

Click here to read the full press release.