About VitaCyteFounded in 2003

VitaCyte’s co-founders, Bob McCarthy and Francis Dwulet, were key contributors to the development of the first commercial, purified collagenase-protease enzyme mixture used to prepare cells for subsequent transplantation. This improved tissue dissociation enzyme reagent contributed to success of the “Edmonton Protocol,” the first report of successful treatment of adult patients with Type 1 Diabetes where 7 of 7 patients were “insulin independent” one year after islet transplantation. Prior to the introduction of this purified enzyme reagent, most laboratories performing this clinical research procedure were spending significant amounts of time qualifying collagenase lots for their effectiveness to isolate human islets. Once a lot was selected, the lot qualification procedure was repeated within a year, often because of the instability of the enzymes on storage.

Edmonton’s success led to therapeutic islet transplants being routinely performed outside the US. Presently, one company has received FDA approval for a biological license application to perform allo-islet transplantation in the US, but few or none of these procedures have been performed.

VitaCyte was initially funded by receiving NIH NIDDK Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards, a state of Indiana 21st Century Fund award, and several state of Indiana SBIR matching awards.

Meet the VitaCyte Team