Encellin Announces New Phase 1 Clinical Progress at ISSCR 2026 Showing Early Evidence of Non-Fibrotic Engraftment of Cell Therapy Implant for Type 1 Diabetes
Encellin today announced new clinical progress from its ongoing Phase 1 study evaluating its implantable cell therapy platform for people with type 1 diabetes. The company made the announcement in connection with the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2026 Annual Meeting, reporting non-fibrotic engraftment across all seven participants enrolled in the trial, along with host vascularization at the implant site and identification of transplanted islets in multiple participants. The findings build upon interim results first reported in January 2026 and reflect a larger patient cohort, with analysis of the full clinical dataset ongoing.
“The field has made important advances in developing insulin-producing cells but delivering those cells safely and durably without lifelong immunosuppression remains one of the central challenges,” said Crystal Nyitray, Ph.D., C.E.O. and Founder of Encellin. “These clinical findings represent encouraging progress toward addressing that challenge and provide evidence that our approach may support engraftment and vascularization without the fibrotic response that has historically limited implanted cell therapies.”
The Phase 1 trial enrolled seven adults with established type 1 diabetes who met eligibility criteria for standard-of-care islet transplantation. Participants received a subcutaneous implant containing allogeneic human islets, with the primary objective of evaluating the safety and tolerability of the implant. Enrollment has been completed, and analysis of the full clinical dataset is underway. [The study is an early-stage, open-label trialand was not designed to measure efficacy.]
If confirmed in larger studies, these findings could represent an important step toward overcoming one of the longstanding barriers to cell replacement therapies: maintaining viable implanted cells without provoking fibrosis or requiring chronic immunosuppression. Beyond type 1 diabetes, the platform is designed to support future applications involving stem cell-derived cells and other protein- or hormone-producing cell therapies for chronic diseases.
To learn more about ISSCR 2026 visit www.isscr2026.org. Media are welcome and should apply for credentials if interested in attending or accessing session on demand.
About ISSCR
Across more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to advancing stem cell research and its translation to medicine.
About Encellin
Encellin is a biotechnology company developing transformative cell therapies using its proprietary Encapsulated Cell Replacement Therapy (ENCRT) platform. ENCRT is an investigational platform designed to protect therapeutic cells from immune rejection, enable vascular integration, and eliminate the need for lifelong immunosuppression. Encellin’s lead program is focused on Type 1 Diabetes, with additional programs in parathyroid disorders and other endocrine diseases. Encellin is backed by leading investors including Khosla Ventures and Endurance 28, who share the company’s vision of enabling safe, durable, and accessible cell-based therapies.
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