Cirius Therapeutics Launches Phase 2 Trial for Type 1 Diabetes Drug

The randomized, double-blind study at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is currently recruiting 34 participants to test the drug against a placebo over a three-month period. While automated insulin systems have advanced glucose management, many patients still struggle with high insulin requirements and target range consistency. Researchers hope that by correcting mitochondrial metabolism, the drug will decrease the need for exogenous insulin while lowering cardiovascular risks associated with systemic inflammation.

Dr. William B. Horton, the study’s principal investigator, noted that even with modern delivery systems, patients face cardiovascular complication risks more than double those of the general population. Previous trials of CIR-0602K in type 2 diabetes indicated a 50% reduction in insulin resistance, a metric the team now aims to replicate in the type 1 population. Topline results from this signal-finding study are anticipated in the second half of 2027.