An open-label extension multi-centre trial in adult subjects diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes mellitus exploring the effect of long-term Verapamil SR therapy on the preservation of beta-cell function.

A daily 360 mg dose of Verapamil SR, a common blood pressure drug, is being tested to see if it can preserve insulin production in adults newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes destroys the pancreas’s beta cells, which produce insulin. Patients must inject insulin for life, but even with careful management, blood sugar control is imperfect. Previous animal and human studies suggest Verapamil may protect these remaining beta cells, allowing the body to produce some of its own insulin. The Ver-A-Long study will test this over 24 months in adults, measuring whether beta-cell function is preserved and whether the drug is safe for long-term use. If Verapamil proves effective, it could change the standard of care for newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes. Patients might need less injected insulin, experience fewer dangerous blood sugar swings, and face a lower risk of long-term complications like kidney disease or blindness. This would not be a cure, but a practical, repurposed drug that improves daily disease management and long-term health outcomes.