On January 20, 2026 Novo Nordisk (“Novo”) and Vancouver-based Aspect Biosystems (“Aspect”), announced a new phase of their partnership focused on developing curative cell therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Since 2023, Aspect and Novo have worked together on technologies aimed at producing insulin-secreting islet cells from stem cells. Under the revised partnership, Aspect has acquired Novo’s stem cell–derived islet and hypoimmune cell engineering technologies—designed to create insulin producing cells that can evade immune attack after transplantation into people with T1D.
Novo will continue to invest in Aspect and provide research funding, and it will retain future commercialization and royalty options. This agreement follows Novo’s October 2025 decision to discontinue its cell therapy research and development, including but not limited to, T1D islet manufacturing. As part of the transition, T1D-related research, development, and manufacturing activities will move from the U.S. and Denmark into Aspect’s Canadian platform, expanding the company’s domestic capacity.
This milestone further strengthens Canada’s leadership in T1D research and builds on the $73M Federal–Provincial (BC) investment in Aspect announced in July 2024.
What is Breakthrough T1D’s involvement?
On January 8, 2026 Aspect raised $115M in Series B funding, including from the T1D Fund – A Breakthrough T1D Venture.
Aspect also previously held a Breakthrough T1D International grant (then known as JDRF International) in 2022 to support Aspect’s development of bioengineered tissues that will provide insulin independence and control of blood glucose without the need for chronic immune suppression. In addition to the funding, Breakthrough T1D also contributed strategic support through its vast network in the T1D research field.
What does this mean for Canadians with T1D?
To cure T1D, we need to do two things: we need to protect insulin-producing beta cells from autoimmune attack, and we need to protect and restore their function. To achieve this requires developing a renewable source of cells, as well as therapies that don’t require immunosuppression, as with traditional organ and tissue transplants.
This partnership will help advance cure research that is advancing on both fronts towards the ultimate goal of freedom from insulin, for people of all ages with T1D. And it will be taking place right here in Canada.
