Latest news with #BreakthroughT1D
Malaysian Reserve
3 days ago
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces $3 Million Grant to Support Civica's Affordable Insulin Programs
PETERSBURG, Va., Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Governor Glenn Youngkin joined Civica officials at the company's Petersburg manufacturing facility to announce a $3 million grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia to accelerate Civica's efforts to develop and produce affordable insulin for Americans living with diabetes. 'We are proud to partner with Civica in their mission to make essential medicines more accessible,' said Governor Youngkin. 'This investment reflects our belief in the power of public-private collaboration to improve lives and strengthen communities.' These funds will support the production of insulin aspart, a rapid-acting human insulin analog used to regulate blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes. Civica plans to produce both rapid- and long-acting insulins at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Petersburg, Va., where the company now employs more than 200 skilled workers.1 Over 8 million people living with diabetes need rapid-acting and/or long-acting insulin. The Governor also announced that he had officially proclaimed August 7 – 14 2025 'Life Sciences Week' demonstrating the Commonwealth's commitment to 'accelerating the advancement of the life sciences through public-private partnerships, STEM education, workforce development, and sustained investment in research and development.' 'We are grateful for the Commonwealth's support,' said Ned McCoy, Civica's President and CEO. 'This funding will help us move closer toward our goal of ensuring that no one has to choose between insulin and other basic needs.' Civica and Virginia officials were joined by Lynn Starr, Chief Global Advocacy Officer of Breakthrough T1D, the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization. 'More than one million American adults live with type 1 diabetes, and many still, sadly, ration their insulin, due to the prohibitively high cost of this necessary medication,' said Starr. 'Civica's work will help to make insulin more affordable for people across the country.' Breakthrough T1D is among more than two dozen organizations and philanthropists, along with the states of Virginia and California, that have partnered with Civica to support the development of affordable insulins. Civica's insulin initiative aims to provide patients with predictable, transparent pricing — no more than $30 per vial or $55 for a box of five pens — regardless of insurance status. About CivicaCivica is a nonprofit pharmaceutical company established to address drug shortages. It was founded by a group of U.S. health systems and philanthropies who, after more than a decade of chronic shortages, recognized that the market was not self-correcting and that a different approach is required. Civica works to deliver a safe, stable, and affordable supply of essential medicines to U.S. patients. Media Contact:Liz 860 501 3849 1 Facility prior approval inspection expected in 2026.
Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Digostics Announces University Trial of New At-home Type 1 Diabetes Test Underway
OXFORD, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researchers have initiated an evaluation of a new at-home test to diagnose and monitor early stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D), based on blood glucose levels. The test would be used in individuals who have already tested positive for T1D autoantibodies to identify where they may be in their early-stage T1D progression. The trial, which is funded by Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) the leading global T1D research and advocacy organization, will assess the accuracy, reproducibility, and acceptability of the GTT@home Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) compared to in-clinic OGTTs. The results of the trial will inform future regulatory submissions for GTT@home use in T1D, which already has regulatory approval in the UK, Europe and other regions for other types of diabetes. GTT@home is an OGTT developed by British diabetes home-testing company Digostics that uses finger-prick blood samples to measure how well the body processes glucose. The test, being studied at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., has been shown to be as accurate as lab-based OGTTs when used in adults with glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, or in pregnant individuals to diagnosis gestational diabetes. The GTT@home test has successfully been implemented in several UK NHS Trusts to screen for gestational diabetes in pregnancy. Dr. Jennifer Sherr, Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology and the Medical Director of Pediatric Diabetes at Yale School of Medicine and co-lead principal investigator of the trial, said: 'As the presence of diabetes autoantibodies foretells an eventual diagnosis of T1D, it is critical to conduct an OGTT to stage the disease, which helps predict the risk of progression over time. Yet, in the current paradigm this requires coming to a clinical center or laboratory and getting venous blood draws. Despite knowing there is an increased risk of diabetes many individuals struggle to undergo an OGTT for staging, or repeat the test to permit ongoing monitoring. An at-home OGTT would alleviate this barrier. The ability to have those at risk use a product that is simple, requires fingerpricks instead of venous draws, and can be done within a person's own home at a date and time that is convenient for them would be a fantastic step forward for both patients and providers.' T1D can be diagnosed at any age, and it is the most common childhood autoimmune disease, affecting around one in 350 children. In T1D the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. It affects every aspect of health and well-being and results in lifelong insulin dependence and an increased risk of major health problems such as heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure. In 40% or more of children the diagnosis of T1D is not made until the child has become severely unwell and presents with metabolic decompensation, which is known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening diabetes complication. Dr. Raquel Lopez-Diez, Scientist at Breakthrough T1D commented, 'Breakthrough T1D is excited to fund this important work with Yale University School of Medicine to explore an at-home alternative to OGTT for glycemic monitoring in the early stages of type 1 diabetes. Traditional in-clinic OGTTs are time-consuming, can be challenging to navigate for younger individuals, and require significant clinic resources. As new therapies emerge that can delay and, hopefully, one day prevent the progression of type 1 diabetes, it is critical to have the tools to accurately and reliably monitor and diagnose the early stages of the disease. A validated at-home testing approach would represent a major breakthrough. We look forward to seeing the results of this important study.' T1D develops in stages over time, and early stages can be detected through a simple blood test. In stage 1 the body develops islet autoantibodies but the blood glucose levels are still normal. In stage 2, islet autoantibodies are present and individuals experience abnormal blood glucose or dysglycemia, and by stage 3 an individual has the clinical diagnosis of T1D and symptoms may begin to appear due to significant loss of insulin-producing cells. The OGTT is the gold-standard test recommended for defining the stage of T1D a person is experiencing, and it is the most sensitive test for monitoring T1D stages 1 and 2. Hospital-based OGTTs are often not well tolerated because they require placement of an intravenous line inserted into the vein or multiple blood draws, as several blood samples taken over 2-hours in a healthcare setting. Study lead Dr. Alfonso Galderisi, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, confirmed that the study will recruit 60 patients aged eight and over. 'To understand the ease of conducting the test, participants will complete an unsupervised GTT@home test. Five to seven days later, participants will come to our research unit and we will conduct the standard of care OGTT alongside a supervised GTT@home, with the results of the two tests compared to assess accuracy. We will also be interviewing participants to assess their perception of the two methods used to conduct OGTTs.' Glucose tolerance tests are performed in the morning after an overnight fast. The GTT@home test kit contains the test device, finger prickers for blood sample collection, a preformulated glucose drink, and detailed instructions. The process begins with an initial finger prick blood sample, followed by the consumption of the glucose drink. Two hours later, a second blood sample is taken. With standard clinic-based OGTTs, individuals need to travel to a clinic early in the morning and then undergo the two blood draws two hours apart and have an IV inserted. The GTT@home device analyses blood samples shortly after completion of the test and shares results in a timely manner directly with the study teams or clinician. Expedited analysis of samples eliminates the risk of sample degradation that can affect hospital-based OGTTs when samples are not sent to the lab immediately, improving diagnostic reliability. "The support from Breakthrough T1D and the team at Yale School of Medicine underscores once again the huge potential for our at-home OGTT for use in T1D," said James Jackson, CEO and Founder of Digostics. "We are working closely with the Yale study team to support this trial.'
News18
17-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Barbie Launches First Doll with Type 1 Diabetes
In a historic first, Mattel in association with Breakthrough T1D, has introduced the first Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Barbie just released a doll with diabetes. Here's why a B.C. content creator is calling it 'incredible'
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. When Bella Bucchiotti was 19, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). 'It came completely out of the blue, and adjusting to life with T1D was overwhelming,' the B.C.-based content creator and founder of the site recalls. 'There's no easing into it — one day you're fine, and the next you're figuring out insulin doses and how every bite of food might impact your blood sugar.' A chronic autoimmune disease that prevents your pancreas from making insulin, people with T1D require insulin therapies in order to survive. The diagnosis changed everything for Bucchiotti. Life, she says, became a constant balancing act. 'No one really sees all the mental load that comes with it,' Bucchiotti says. 'There's a huge learning curve, especially at the start — figuring out how your body responds to food, exercise, stress, even lack of sleep. Every day is different, and that can be exhausting.' Developing the tools and knowledge to help manage her diabetes, Bucchiotti says she's learned to live with Type 1, without letting it define her. Bucchiotti isn't alone in her diagnosis. According to the research and advocacy organization Breakthrough T1D, about 300,000 Canadians have T1D, with that number forecast to increase to 455,580 by 2040. Most diagnoses come between ages 10 and 14, according to Breakthrough T1D. But a diagnosis can come at any age. And that diagnosis can come as a shock. Looking to raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes, Mattel Inc. is releasing its first Barbie doll with the disease. The move, Bucchiotti says, could be helpful to people, especially young girls, who might be facing a T1D diagnosis. 'It's a way of being seen and not singled out,' she says. 'That really matters, especially in the beginning when you're learning how to manage it all and you feel so different from everyone around you.' As a new mother, Bucchiotti says the representation can impart an important message to children living with T1D: 'You're not broken, and you're not alone.' 'The mental-health side of diabetes is something we don't talk about enough, especially the isolation,' she says. 'A toy like this sends a message that living with Type 1 diabetes is just one part of who you are, and it doesn't have to make you feel like you don't belong.' Created in partnership with Breakthrough T1D, the new doll wears a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), an important tool that measures a person's blood-glucose level, held in place with a Barbie-pink piece of heart-shaped medical tape. 'Even now, seeing someone else with an insulin pump or CGM at the coffee shop makes me feel like I'm not alone,' Bucchiotti notes of the noticeable inclusion. 'That quiet connection is something really special, because no one else quite understands how tough some days can be.' The doll also features an insulin pump, a small device that allows for insulin dosing as needed, at the waist. 'It gives kids someone — even in doll-form — who truly reflects their experience,' Bucchiotti remarks of the realistic elements of the polka-dot-dress-wearing Barbie. 'Instead of feeling different or ashamed, they see something familiar, something that makes their condition feel normal. 'A Barbie with a CGM might seem like a small gesture, but for a child navigating a life-changing diagnosis, it can bring comfort, confidence and a sense of belonging. It can also open the door for conversations with friends and classmates, helping to build empathy and break down stigma.' Part of the Barbie Fashionistas' line, the Barbie doll with Type 1 joins a collection of more than 175 looks who feature a wide variety of skin tones, eye and hair colours, body types, ethnicities, disabilities and more. The latest doll reflects an 'important step' in Mattel Inc.'s commitment to inclusivity and representation, according to Krista Berger, senior vice-president of Barbie and global head of dolls. For Bucchiotti, the doll represents an important point of connection for the community of people around the world living with the disease. 'Type 1 diabetes is relentless, but it builds a kind of strength you don't expect,' she says. 'It's not always easy, but the T1D community is incredibly supportive. 'Sometimes it's a message from someone who's been there, or even just spotting a CGM on a stranger across the room — those small moments of connection remind you that you're not in this alone.' Aharris@ Opinion: Living with multiple sclerosis is difficult. Living in B.C. makes it harder Margot Robbie would like to make a Barbie musical
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mattel introduces first Barbie with type 1 diabetes
***Video above: How do toys get into the Toy Hall of Fame?*** (WJW) – The first Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes is making her debut, the toy giant Mattel, Inc. announced on Tuesday. The company shared a first look at the newest Barbie, featuring a blue polka dot dress for diabetes awareness, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on her arm and an insulin pump. Mattel said the latest edition helps young children with diabetes to see themselves in Barbie 'and encourages doll play that extends beyond a child's own lived experience.' What to know about the new school cell phone policy in Ohio 'Introducing a Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,' Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls said in a press release. 'Barbie helps shape children's early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.' Barbie partnered with the organization Breakthrough T1D to bring the new doll to life (figuratively). The organization focuses on research to help speed up breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes treatment and prevention. Company officials said they worked closely with Breakthrough T1D to make sure the new Barbie best represents people with the condition. Extra itchy, swollen mosquito bites? You could have Skeeter syndrome Barbie also donated dolls to the Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children's Congress, an event that brings 170 children with type 1 diabetes to meet with congress members, the release said. Mattel officials said the new Barbie dolls are already available online and in retail stores across the country. According to the Cleveland Clinic, type 1 diabetes, diagnosed in both children and adults, is 'a chronic autoimmune disease that prevents your pancreas from making insulin.' It is considered one of the most common chronic diseases to affect kids in the United States. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
