AstraZeneca and Ionis target diabetes with antisense approach to regenerating pancreatic cells

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a progressive loss of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, and current remedies can’t do much beyond just relieving symptoms. Now AstraZeneca and Ionis are working together to investigate a new way to target beta cells with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)—and they have early evidence the approach may help restore the functioning of those vital cells.