Insulin and Abatacept in Recently-diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an immune attack on insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas that impairs their ability to make insulin to control blood glucose levels. When diabetes is diagnosed, the pancreas is usually still able to make some insulin, but not enough to meet the body's needs. Over time, continued immune attack further decreases insulin production until after one to two years it is very low or undetectable. When type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, treatments that stop the immune attack may preserve residual beta-cell function. This decreases the requirement for injected insulin and improves glucose control. However, so far, immune therapies have not been shown to prevent ongoing loss of beta-cell function. In this clinical trial, two safe immune therapies called abatacept and nasal insulin will be used together to test if the combination can better preserve the function of beta cells to make insulin after diagnosis. If this occurs, it will be relatively simple to develop this treatment for routine use in recently-diagnosed people and to test whether it prevents high-risk individuals progressing to need insulin injections. This trial will also provide research samples to improve our understanding of how type 1 diabetes develops and how abatacept and nasal insulin might affect this process. The new knowledge created from studying these samples will improve our ability to use abatacept and nasal insulin to preserve pancreas function in type 1 diabetes.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 6 and 21 years and weight at least 20kg at Visit 1
• Diabetes mellitus diagnosed according to ADA criteria (53) within 100 days of Visit 2
• Presence of at least one antibody against insulin (if <10 days since starting insulin therapy), GAD, IA2 or ZnT8
• Random C-peptide >0.3nmol/l, measured by a NATA-accredited pathology laboratory within 2 weeks of Visit 2
• Willing to use CGM for the duration of the study
• Demonstrated ability to record home glucose measurements and insulin doses, as judged by the study doctor
• Willing to forego other forms of experimental treatment during the study
• Fully vaccinated against Covid-19, as recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation
• Up to date with other vaccinations recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation
• Willing to postpone any live vaccine immunisations for 3 months after treatment

Exclusion criteria

• Clinical or laboratory evidence of active infection other than localised skin infection, including viral hepatitis, EBV, CMV or tuberculosis
• Immunodeficiency or chronic use of immunosuppressive drugs other than topical or inhaled glucocorticoid
• Vaccination with live or dead virus within 4 weeks of Visit 2
• History of malignancy
• Pregnant or lactating, or of child-bearing potential not using an effective method of contraception
• Any pathology of the nasal passages that would preclude safe application of the nasal spray
• Any condition that would interfere with study conduct or participant safety