Vertex Pharmaceuticals, based in Boston, is making significant strides towards a potential stem cell-based cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). Dr. Gary Meininger, who has been living with T1D for decades, is leading the clinical development at Vertex. Recently, the company announced promising early trial results. A patient with T1D for 40 years experienced a 91% reduction in daily insulin requirements and began producing insulin naturally again after receiving Vertex's novel islet cell transplantation. This treatment uses beta cells derived from stem cells, which is a new approach compared to traditional islet cell replacement therapy. The first patient, Brian Shelton, showed remarkable improvements in blood sugar control and a significant decrease in insulin use. Although the results are preliminary and only involve one patient, they offer hope for a functional cure for T1D. Vertex plans to continue clinical trials and further develop this treatment, aiming to make it more accessible and potentially eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs in the future.