Eledon Announces Updated Data from Investigator-Initiated Islet Transplant Trial of Tegoprubart in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at UChicago Medicine
Rhea-AI Summary
Eledon (NASDAQ: ELDN) reported updated data from a 12-patient, investigator-initiated islet transplant trial of tegoprubart in type 1 diabetes at UChicago Medicine.
According to Eledon, 100% of patients achieved insulin independence, mean HbA1c fell from ~8.0% to ~5.4%, and no severe post-transplant hypoglycemia or rejection episodes were observed over up to 22 months.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Positive
- All 12 patients (100%) achieved insulin independence after islet transplantation with tegoprubart-based immunosuppression
- Mean most recent HbA1c improved from approximately 8.0% to about 5.4% across the cohort
- No severe hypoglycemic episodes reported post-transplant despite recurrent severe events in all patients pre-transplant
- No rejection episodes and no de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies observed in any of the 12 patients
- Higher post-transplant islet cell engraftment than in historical tacrolimus-based regimens at UChicago Medicine
- No nephrotoxicity, hypertension or neurotoxicity observed, toxicities commonly associated with tacrolimus-based regimens
Negative
- Clinical data come from a small, single-center pilot study with only 12 adult patients
- Median follow-up of 8 months and maximum 22 months limits long-term durability assessment
- Tegoprubart remains investigational, with regulatory guidance on a potential path to market still pending
News Market Reaction – ELDN
On the day this news was published, ELDN gained 4.69%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +4.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 2 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $12M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $263.21M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20 | Clinical data preview | Positive | +1.3% | Upcoming BESTOW kidney transplant data presentations and investor call details. |
| May 13 | Earnings & pipeline | Positive | +1.8% | Q1 2026 results plus tegoprubart progress and cash runway update. |
| Mar 19 | Full-year results | Positive | +1.1% | 2025 results with strong islet and kidney transplant data for tegoprubart. |
| Mar 16 | Islet trial update | Positive | +2.0% | Updated UChicago islet data showing insulin independence and good safety. |
| Mar 10 | Orphan designation | Positive | +0.0% | FDA Orphan Drug designation for liver transplantation prevention of rejection. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent clinical and regulatory updates for tegoprubart have generally been followed by modestly positive or flat price reactions.
Over the last few months, ELDN has repeatedly highlighted progress for tegoprubart across islet, kidney and liver transplantation. On Mar 10, an FDA Orphan Drug designation for liver transplantation saw a flat reaction. Subsequent updates on islet data and long‑term kidney results on Mar 16, Mar 19, and Q1 earnings on May 13 were followed by small gains of 2.04%, 1.05%, and 1.8%. A May 20 clinical presentation preview added another 1.3%. Against that backdrop, today’s negative move contrasts with the stock’s usual positive response to tegoprubart news.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf filed on 2026-05-01 permits Eledon to offer up to $500,000,000 in securities, including an at-the-market program of up to $75,000,000 in common stock, providing substantial flexibility to raise capital as needed.
Key Terms
anti-cd40l antibody medical
allogeneic islet cell transplantation medical
hemoglobin a1c medical
severe hypoglycemia medical
calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppression medical
tacrolimus medical
nephrotoxicity medical
donor-specific hla antibodies medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
– All 12 patients in study (
– All 12 patients also achieved an HbA1c below
– No severe hypoglycemic episodes were reported post-transplant, compared with a history of recurrent severe hypoglycemic events prior to transplantation in all enrolled patients
IRVINE, Calif., June 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Eledon”) (NASDAQ: ELDN) today announced updated results from an investigator-initiated trial evaluating tegoprubart, its investigational anti-CD40L antibody, as part of a calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppression regimen in patients with type 1 diabetes undergoing allogeneic islet cell transplantation at the University of Chicago Medicine Transplant Institute. The results were presented by trial investigator Piotr Witkowski, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Pancreas and Islet Transplant Program at UChicago Medicine, at the American Diabetes Association 86th Scientific Sessions, taking place June 5-9, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
All patients treated in the study (n=12) showed rapid improvement in glycemic control following islet transplantation and treatment with tegoprubart, with stable islet graft function observed across the cohort over a median and maximum post-transplant follow-up period of 8 and 22 months, respectively. All 12 patients achieved insulin independence, meaning that they no longer needed chronic, exogenous insulin therapy to manage their T1D. Also, all patients demonstrated a most recent hemoglobin A1C (“HbA1c”) below the diabetic threshold of
While all patients enrolled reported recurrent severe hypoglycemic events pre-transplant, no severe hypoglycemic episodes were reported following transplantation. Severe hypoglycemia is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes that may require emergency medical intervention and can cause loss of consciousness, seizures, injury, or death. Recurrent severe hypoglycemic episodes can significantly impact patients’ daily activities and quality of life.
Higher levels of post-transplant islet cell engraftment were observed with the tegoprubart-based immunosuppression regimen than in historical patients treated with a tacrolimus-based immunosuppression regimen at UChicago Medicine. There were no rejection episodes, and no patients developed de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies. Tegoprubart-based immunosuppression was generally well tolerated, with immunosuppression-related adverse events generally successfully treated by lowering the mycophenolic acid dose, if necessary. Additionally, no evidence of nephrotoxicity, hypertension or neurotoxicity, which are commonly associated with tacrolimus-based immunosuppression regimens, was observed. These findings further support the potential of CD40L blockade to enable effective islet graft protection while avoiding the toxicities of calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus.
The investigator-initiated pilot study enrolled 12 adults with long-standing T1D undergoing allogeneic islet transplantation at UChicago Medicine with a median duration of diabetes of approximately 33 years and mean HbA1c of approximately
“T1D patients have been waiting decades for a potential functional cure, and it is exciting to see the progress being made in that direction through the emerging promise of tegoprubart,” said David-Alexandre C. Gros, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Eledon. “For people who have difficulty managing T1D, a regimen that may protect an islet cell graft without the long-term burden associated with calcineurin inhibitors, the current standard of care, could be transformational. We are proud to support this important research effort led by Dr. Witkowski and the team at UChicago Medicine. We also look forward to working closely with the FDA towards our goal of receiving regulatory guidance on a path to market for tegoprubart in islet cell transplantation later this year.”
“Insulin independence without the burden of traditional immunosuppression has long been one of cell replacement therapy's biggest goals,” said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Breakthrough T1D. “Results like these show that this goal is becoming increasingly achievable. Breakthrough T1D is proud to fund this important study.”
This UChicago Medicine-initiated clinical trial is funded by Breakthrough T1D, with initial support from The Cure Alliance. Breakthrough T1D has also committed to fund a second study evaluating tegoprubart as part of a calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppression drug regimen to prevent islet transplant rejection in individuals with T1D and chronic kidney disease.
About Islet Transplantation for Type 1 Diabetes
Pancreatic islet transplantation is a minimally invasive procedure developed to provide blood glucose control for subjects with type 1 diabetes and minimize or eliminate dependence on insulin. During the procedure, pancreatic islets containing insulin-producing beta cells are isolated from the pancreas of a deceased organ donor and infused through a small catheter into the patient’s liver. The islet cells lodge in small blood vessels in the liver and release insulin. After the procedure, subjects remain on immunosuppression therapy to prevent transplant rejection.
About Eledon Pharmaceuticals and tegoprubart
Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company that is developing immune-modulating therapies for the management and treatment of life-threatening conditions. The Company’s lead investigational product is tegoprubart, an anti-CD40L antibody with high affinity for the CD40 Ligand, a well-validated biological target that has broad therapeutic potential. The central role of CD40L signaling in both adaptive and innate immune cell activation and function positions it as an attractive target for non-lymphocyte depleting, immunomodulatory therapeutic intervention. The Company is building upon a deep historical knowledge of anti-CD40 Ligand biology to conduct preclinical and clinical studies in kidney allograft transplantation, xenotransplantation, islet cell transplantation, liver allograft transplantation and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Eledon is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.eledon.com.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Any statements about the company’s planned clinical trials, the development of product candidates, expected or future results of tegoprubart trials and its ability to prevent rejection in connection with islet cell transplantation, as well as other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “predicts,” “projects,” “targets,” “looks forward,” “could,” “may,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including: risks relating to the safety and efficacy of our drug candidates; risks relating to clinical development timelines, including interactions with regulators and clinical sites, as well as patient enrollment; and risks relating to costs of clinical trials and the sufficiency of the company’s capital resources to fund planned clinical trials. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ significantly from the forward-looking statements contained herein, are discussed in our quarterly 10-Q, annual 10-K, and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be found at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and not of any future date, and the company expressly disclaims any intent to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Contact:
Stephen Jasper
Gilmartin Group
(858) 525 2047
stephen@gilmartinir.com
Media Contact:
Jenna Urban
CG Life
(212) 253 8881
jurban@cglife.com
Source: Eledon Pharmaceuticals
