Yesterday we talked about our new report, on Type 1 Human Clinical Trials, and revealed that only 18 percent of those trials are focused on a potential type 1 cure. By our estimation, the four major charities, the JDRF, ADA, Joslin and DRIF, contribute to roughly a quarter of those trials – meaning the vast majority of donations they receive are used for other projects besides a type 1 cure.
So what are those other expenses? And why are they not going to benefit us as much as a focused approach towards a type 1 cure?
Not surprisingly, the largest share of trials, or 42 percent, are focused on Treatments. As technology improves, people want new ways to manage their diabetes and live a healthier and more comfortable life. The problem with life-long treatments without a cure, however, is self-explanatory. Treatments are not a cure and they will always get in the way of normal eating habits, they will always require us to make note of what and how much food we consume, we will have to spend a lot of money and will always be in danger of diabetes complications. (If a treatment did indeed help with all of that, it would be closer to be being considered a cure) Treatments, are useful as they are, can not be our ultimate goal.
Observational or General expenses made up 20 percent of research. Understanding more about type 1 diabetes is certainty a crucial aspect towards searching for a cure, however, research that does not have a timely objective, a target to aim for and a mission it needs to achieve will not be very effective. Proof of that is that we have been “observing” the disease for more than a century and are not really closer to a cure. We always need to set up specific targets when spending money in the research labs.
Islet Transplantation trials made up 13 percent of the total. While some consider this method a possible means towards a cure, the JDCA’s position is that Islet transplantation procedures involve the use of harsh immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the newly implanted islets. Due to the toxic nature of the anti-rejection drugs, we do not categorize these trials as cure related.
Lastly, 7 percent of trials are geared towards diabetes complications. Like treatments, this is also a field we need to be aware of so that we can live healthier lives, but it can not replace the search for a cure as our ultimate goal. Only a type 1 diabetes Practical Cure can fully remove the danger of complications, or the need for life-long treatments.
We should not be ok with only 18 percent of total human clinical trials (mostly using money donated for a cure) to be focused on a cure. We must pressure the foundations and let them know we demand that any money that we donate be used for cure trials. We need to make them the majority if we are to see a change and make a serious effort to find a cure within our lifetime, or before 2025.
– Stoyan
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