Australian scientists have discovered that the drug baricitinib, used for autoimmune diseases, can slow the progression of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) if treatment is started shortly after diagnosis. The results of the BANDIT study, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in Vienna, pave the way for the first oral therapy to modify the course of the disease.
New research by Australian scientists, published in SciTechDaily, showed that baricitinib—a drug already used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and alopecia—can significantly slow the development of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) when administered early.
The BANDIT (Baricitinib in New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes) study lasted two years and involved 91 participants aged 10 to 30 with recently diagnosed diabetes. Patients took a 4 mg dose of baricitinib or a placebo once daily for 48 weeks.
The results showed that the drug helps preserve the function of insulin-producing beta cells, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and reduces the need for insulin therapy. After treatment cessation, the effect gradually declined, indicating the need for long-term therapy for sustained results.
“Baricitinib stands out among other drugs because it can be taken orally, is safe even for children, and genuinely helps preserve pancreatic function,” noted Dr. Michaela Waibel from the St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research (Fitzroy, Australia).
The scientists emphasize that treatment is especially effective in the early stage of the disease—when some of the body’s own insulin-producing cells are still preserved. According to researchers, the drug could eventually become the first agent capable of preventing or delaying the development of T1D.
If subsequent clinical trials confirm the results, baricitinib could be approved for T1D therapy within the next five years.
