This website is designed to provide detailed information about the BCG Clinical Trial being conducted by Dr. Denise Faustman from Massachusetts General Hospital. The GOAL of this website is to raise awareness, provide detailed information and raise money to support their clinical trial using the generic drug Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. The discovery is a significant breakthrough for Type 1 Diabetes.
Dr. Faustman spent several years determining the source of the autoimmune response that causes Type 1 Diabetes and during this time she discovered that the pancreas is capable of spontaneous regeneration. This process allows the pancreas to regenerate new islets and begin producing insulin again. Her discovery has been published in the November 14, 2003 edition of Science Magazine.
Dr. Faustman determined that BCG is capable of stimulating the immune system allowing the patient’s own immune system to manage the level of bad T-cells in the body. BCG causes the body to make a natural substance called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) that helps regulate the immune system. People with Type 1 Diabetes normally produce too little TNF. Sufficient amounts of TNF help transfer cell signals to the immune system, which helps it to identify and kill the “bad” T-cells that cause diabetes. Once the T-cells are under control, the pancreas will begin to regenerate islets and begin producing insulin.
BCG is a drug that has FDA approval for use in humans for prevention of tuberculosis and treatment of bladder cancer. The procedure for administering BCG is relatively painless with few side effects and has been safely used in humans since 1921. It is estimated that over four billion doses have been given worldwide.
Much of Dr. Faustman’s research, including the Phase 1 clinical trial has been funded by Mr. Lee Iacocca. Mr. Iacocca became interested in diabetes when his first wife passed away of complications from her Type 1 Diabetes. Since that time he has been dedicated to finding a cure.