Diamyd enrolling children in clinical trial for diabetes drug

STOCKHOLM, Sweden A Swedish drug maker that develops treatments for diabetes will accelerate patient recruitment for a late-stage clinical trial of an investigational drug in the United States.

Diamyd Medical announced last week that from Tuesday, children ages 10 to 15 with Type 1 diabetes would be included in its phase 3 study of the Diamyd diabetes vaccine. Previously, the study was open to patients aged 16 to 20 due to Food and Drug Administration restrictions.

“We are now working diligently to recruit patients in the U.S.,” Diamyd CEO Elisabeth Lindner said in a statement. “Most people who develop Type 1 diabetes do so between the ages of 10 and 15 years, which is why the speed of recruitment may increase rapidly in the U.S. study when we include this age group and expand the number of clinics.”

The study will include 640 children and adolescents recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the United States and Europe.