Long-term Effects with Repeated ProTrans Treatment After 6 Years

December 17, 2024

NextCell Pharma AB reports new results from the ProTrans-Repeat study, where type 1 diabetes patients have been followed for 5 years after receiving two doses of the stromal cell product ProTrans, in total 6 years after the first infusion. The results show that two out of three patients in the high-dose group increased their insulin production by 23% and 34% respectively.

Long-term Effectiveness and Safety
ProTrans-1, a dose-escalation study completed in 2019, demonstrated that ProTrans treatment is safe and that higher doses of the drug product provides therapeutic efficacy. Patients who received the highest dose of 200 million cells, demonstrated a significant preservation of their insulin production one year after treatment compared to those who received lower doses.

In the follow-up study, ProTrans-Repeat, patients from ProTrans-1 were treated with an additional dose of ProTrans 1–1.5 years after the initial infusion. Earlier interim analyses showed that the high-dose group retained, on average, 81% of their insulin production 3.5–4 years after the first dose, compared to 41% and 45% in the low- and medium-dose groups.

Results After 6 Years
We now demonstrate that 6 years after the first infusion, the high-dose group (n=3) retained, on average, 91% of their insulin production. Two patients increased their production by 23% and 34%, while the third experienced a decline. In the low- and medium-dose groups, retained insulin production after 6 years averaged 26% and 47%, respectively.

"The results from the ProTrans-Repeat study are highly encouraging, showing that repeated treatment can preserve and even improve insulin production over 6 years. This strengthens ProTrans’ potential as a safe and effective therapy for modifying the progression of type 1 diabetes", says Mathias Svahn, CEO.

A summary of insulin production as a percentage of baseline is provided below:

Timepoint (years) Low Dose Medium Dose High Dose Controls
0 100% 100% 100% 100%
1 72% 91% 96% 72%
3.5 41% 45% 81% 36%
6 26% 47% 91% N/A

The control patients were included when the ProTrans-Repeat trial began, 1–1.5 years after other patients. Their type 1 diabetes diagnoses varied between 2 months and more than 2 years prior to inclusion.

Connection to Previous Findings

These data reinforce earlier findings on ProTrans’ long-term effectiveness. In October 2023, NextCell reported that a single treatment with ProTrans could slow disease progression for over 5 years. These new results suggest that repeated treatment can further enhance long-term outcomes, particularly with higher doses. While later timepoints lack statistical significance due to the small group sizes, a clear trend is evident and in line with our previous datasets showing that ProTrans modifies the disease progression of type 1 diabetes, long-term.

In September 2023, we reported that ProTrans is immunologically safe when used for repeated treatments. The combination of long-term efficacy and safety highlights ProTrans’ potential as a groundbreaking treatment for autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes.


This disclosure contains information that NextCell Pharma AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU nr 596/2014). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person, on 17-12-2024 12:50 CET.

For more information about NextCell Pharma, please contact
Mathias Svahn, CEO
Patrik Fagerholm, CFO
Tel: +46 8 735 5595
E-mail: info@nextcellpharma.com

Websites:
NextCell Pharma AB: www.nextcellpharma.com
Cellaviva Sverige: www.cellaviva.se
Cellaviva Danmark: www.cellaviva.dk
QVance AB: www.qvance.se

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/15255207/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NextCellPharma

The company's shares are listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market. FNCA AB is assigned as Certified Adviser.

About NextCell Pharma AB

NextCell is a cell therapy company in Phase II trials with the drug candidate ProTrans for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The focus is to obtain market approval of ProTrans via a phase III trial. In addition to type 1 diabetes. NextCell owns Cellaviva AB, Scandinavia’s largest private stem cell bank licensed by the Swedish Health Authority (IVO) to preserve and store stem cells from umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue for family use. NextCell also owns QVance which will offer quality control analytics for advanced therapy developers. Furthermore, NextCell owns 8.5% in FamicordTX, a CAR-T start-up in oncology.

Download attachmentRead full press release on Cision (external link)
2025-04-23
NextCell Presents Quarterly Report
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell" or the "Company") invites investors, analysts and media to an investor presentation in conjunction with the publication of the Company's second interim report for the 2024/2025 financial year, on Thursday, 25 April 2025.
Read moreRead more
2025-04-15
NextCell CEO Mathias Svahn explains the latest results from ProTrans-YOUNG and his vision for the way forward
NextCell Pharma (“the company” or “NextCell”) has published an interview where the analyst Filip Einarsson from Redeye, who currently covering NextCell, discusses with Mathias questions regarding the latest results from ProTrans-YOUNG and NextCell's participation at the International Diabetes Congress in Bangkok 7-10 April. The interview is now available with English subtitles on NextCell's website https://www.nextcellpharma.com/nyheter#foretagspresentationer
Read moreRead more
2025-04-09
NextCell’s CSO elected Vice President Elect for ISCT Europe
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell") announces that Dr Lindsay Davies, Chief Scientific Officer at NextCell Pharma AB, has been elected Vice President Elect for Europe within the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT). The role is a key position within the organisation’s global leadership, offering significant influence over the future direction of cell and gene therapies, both across Europe and internationally.
Read moreRead more
2025-04-07
Subgroup Analysis: NextCell Presents Preliminary One-Year Results from the Older Age Group in ProTrans-Young
NextCell Pharma today announces preliminary one-year results from the older age group (12–21 years) in the ongoing clinical trial ProTrans-Young. The study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the company’s cell therapy, ProTrans, in preserving insulin production in young individuals newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, compared with placebo. The current analysis is an administrative subgroup analysis of the first 30 randomised patients, all included within six months of diagnosis – a favourable time point, as more insulin production is typically still present and can be preserved. However, variability in disease progression is greater early after diagnosis and during puberty, which at this stage makes interpretation of the treatment effect more challenging. A clearer effect is expected over time.
Read moreRead more
2025-03-28
NextCell’s CSO Appointed to the Board of ATMP Sweden
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell") proudly announces that the company’s Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), Dr. Lindsay Davies, has been appointed to the board of ATMP Sweden. This further reinforces both her role and NextCell’s position as a key player in the development of advanced therapies, both nationally and internationally.
Read moreRead more
2025-03-19
Recognition for NextCell’s CSO from the International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell" or "the Company") announces that its CSO, Lindsay Davies, has been asked to lead the inaugural International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) industry committee for Europe and has been nominated as Vice President Elect in the 2025 ISCT elections.
Read moreRead more
2025-03-13
Results from the Older Age Cohort in the ProTrans-Young Paediatric Study Expected in Aprilv
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell" or "the Company") announces that the last patient in the older age cohort (12–21 years) of the clinical Phase II study, ProTrans-Young, has now completed their 12-month follow-up. The collected data is currently being compiled, and an administrative subgroup analysis is planned to be presented at the IDF World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok from April 7–10.
Read moreRead more
2025-02-19
All Patients with Severe Virus-Induced Pneumonia Treated in the ProTrans V Study
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell") announced today that all patients in the clinical trial ProTrans V, where ProTrans is used for the treatment of severe virus-induced pneumonia, have been treated. The study is being conducted at Örebro University Hospital and includes a total of nine patients, with three patients in each dose group.  
Read moreRead more