How to get lantidra?: A Comprehensive Guide for Eligible Patients

October 12, 2025 •

4 min read

Lantidra is the first FDA-approved allogeneic pancreatic islet cellular therapy for Type 1 diabetes patients with frequent, severe hypoglycemia. While it represents a groundbreaking treatment option, it is not a cure and is only available to a select group of adults who meet very specific medical criteria.

Quick Summary

Lantidra is an advanced cell therapy for a specific subset of adults with type 1 diabetes. Access requires a multi-step evaluation at an authorized transplant center, including a review of eligibility, medical history, and risk assessment. Long-term immunosuppression is necessary for treatment viability.

Key Points

Exclusive Availability: Lantidra is currently only available through the University of Illinois (UI) Health transplant program in Chicago.
Strict Eligibility: Patients must have Type 1 diabetes, be over 18, and experience severe hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia unawareness despite intensive management.
Required Immunosuppression: Lifelong use of immunosuppressant medications is necessary to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted islet cells.
Limited Supply: The therapy relies on islet cells from deceased donors, meaning the supply is limited by organ availability.
Significant Risks: Treatment carries risks from both the infusion procedure (e.g., bleeding, liver injury) and the long-term immunosuppressant use (e.g., infection, cancer).
Variable Results: The degree of insulin independence achieved with Lantidra varies among patients, and some may not benefit significantly.
Multi-Step Process: The path to treatment involves initial screening via an online form, followed by a comprehensive medical evaluation at the transplant center.

Understanding the Path to Acquiring Lantidra

Lantidra, a cellular therapy derived from deceased donors, offers a potential path to insulin independence for a specific population of adults living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the process of obtaining this treatment is complex, involving a detailed evaluation to ensure a patient meets the stringent criteria and understands the significant associated risks, particularly the need for long-term immunosuppression. The journey begins with a referral and a patient intake form, but successful treatment depends on a multi-stage clinical assessment performed at an authorized transplant center.

The Strict Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for Lantidra, potential candidates must meet a narrow set of requirements to ensure the therapy is both safe and potentially effective. These criteria are designed to identify patients who are at the highest risk from severe hypoglycemia despite intensive management, while mitigating other health risks associated with the procedure and necessary medications.

Key eligibility factors for Lantidra treatment include:

Age: Must be 18 years of age or older.
Type 1 Diabetes Duration: Have a confirmed diagnosis of T1D for at least five years.
Insulin Dependency: Be dependent on insulin.
Hypoglycemia Issues: Have a history of severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) within the past three years or have hypoglycemia unawareness (inability to detect low blood sugar) despite intensive management efforts.
Intensive Management: Must have tried and failed to achieve target blood glucose levels through intensive diabetes management and education.
Body Mass Index (BMI): Typically require a BMI lower than 27.
Absence of Other Conditions: Have no other serious health problems affecting the heart, lungs, liver, or brain.
Absence of Infection: Have no active infections at the time of treatment.

The Multi-Step Application and Evaluation Process

The process of getting Lantidra is unlike obtaining a standard prescription medication. It requires a specialized clinical evaluation at a center equipped to perform islet cell transplants. Currently, the University of Illinois (UI) Health in Chicago is the exclusive provider of this therapy.

Patient Intake Form: Interested individuals can begin by completing the Patient Intake Form on the official Lantidra website. This initial step gathers necessary information to start the screening process.
Clinical Team Review: The UI Health clinical team reviews the intake form to determine if the patient potentially qualifies. They assess the severity of hypoglycemia, the history of diabetes management, and overall health status.
Comprehensive Screening: If the initial review is favorable, the patient enters a comprehensive screening process. This includes an in-depth review of medical records, lab tests, and other diagnostic evaluations.
Specialist Consultation: A consultation with an endocrinologist specializing in islet cell therapy is essential. They will discuss the potential benefits and risks in detail and confirm the patient's eligibility.
Immunosuppression Evaluation: Since long-term immunosuppression is mandatory to prevent islet cell rejection, the medical team evaluates the patient's suitability for these medications, including risks of increased infection and malignancy.
Donor Matching: The therapy requires a match from a deceased donor, determined by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The limited supply of donor cells means the waiting time can be significant.
Procedure Scheduling: Once a match is found and all pre-procedural requirements are met, the infusion is scheduled. The procedure is performed by experienced interventional radiologists or surgeons.

Comparison: Lantidra vs. Intensive Insulin Therapy


Feature	Lantidra (Islet Cell Therapy)	Intensive Insulin Therapy (Standard Care)
Mechanism	Infuses insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells from a deceased donor into the liver.	Involves multiple daily insulin injections or an insulin pump to deliver insulin.
Patient Population	Highly specific subset of adults with T1D and severe, recurrent hypoglycemia or unawareness.	Standard of care for most people with T1D.
Insulin Dependence	Aims to reduce or eliminate the need for external insulin, though not always achieved or permanent.	Patients remain dependent on external insulin indefinitely.
Procedural Risks	Potential for liver complications (laceration, bleeding), high portal pressure, and sepsis.	Risks are primarily related to insulin delivery methods, such as pump site issues or injection site reactions.
Immunosuppression	Requires lifelong immunosuppressants, increasing risk of infection and malignancy.	Does not require immunosuppressants.
Long-Term Management	Regular monitoring for graft function, immunosuppressant side effects, and potential need for follow-up infusions.	Ongoing self-monitoring of blood glucose, insulin adjustments, and routine endocrinologist visits.

Significant Risks and Considerations

The decision to pursue Lantidra is not taken lightly and requires a thorough understanding of the potential risks. The therapy involves two main sets of risks: those from the infusion procedure itself and those from the long-term use of immunosuppressive medications.

Infusion-Related Risks: The procedure, which involves infusing the islet cells into the liver's hepatic portal vein, carries risks such as liver laceration, hemorrhage, and elevated portal pressure.
Immunosuppressant Risks: The need for continuous immunosuppression is a major drawback, increasing the risk of serious infections, including opportunistic infections, as well as the potential for developing malignancies like lymphoma and skin cancer. Long-term use can also cause other issues like severe anemia.
Donor-Related Risks: Since the cells come from deceased donors, there is a risk of transmitting donor-derived infections. Additionally, the supply is limited by the availability of donor organs.
Variable Efficacy: The treatment does not guarantee insulin independence. While some participants in clinical trials achieved long-term independence, others did not or lost it over time.

Conclusion

Lantidra represents a significant advancement for a very specific, high-risk group of Type 1 diabetes patients struggling with severe hypoglycemia. Acquiring Lantidra is a specialized medical procedure, not a standard pharmacy transaction. It requires meeting strict eligibility criteria, undergoing a rigorous clinical evaluation at an authorized transplant center like UI Health, and committing to lifelong immunosuppression. The therapy offers the potential for reduced insulin dependency but comes with substantial procedural and long-term medication risks. Potential candidates must have a frank discussion with their healthcare team to weigh the benefits against these serious considerations before moving forward.

For more detailed information, consult the official FDA prescribing information for Lantidra.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lantidra is approved for adults 18 or older with Type 1 diabetes who have experienced severe or repeated episodes of hypoglycemia or have hypoglycemia unawareness, despite intensive diabetes management. Patients must also meet specific health criteria, including a BMI under 27 and no serious liver, kidney, or heart conditions.

Currently, Lantidra is exclusively available at the University of Illinois (UI) Health in Chicago, where it was developed and approved.

The most common side effects include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, anemia, and abdominal pain. More serious risks come from the infusion procedure (like liver bleeding) and the required immunosuppressants, which increase the risk of infections and malignancies.

As an FDA-approved cell therapy, Lantidra may be eligible for insurance coverage and reimbursement, but this can vary. Since it is a specialized and potentially high-cost procedure, coverage is determined on a case-by-case basis and requires prior authorization.

The first step is to complete the patient intake form on the official Lantidra website, which is reviewed by the clinical team at UI Health to determine potential eligibility.

No, Lantidra is not a cure. It is an allogeneic cellular therapy that can reduce or eliminate the need for external insulin in some patients, but the effects are not guaranteed or necessarily permanent. It also requires lifelong immunosuppression.

Stopping the long-term immunosuppressant medications required for Lantidra will likely cause the body to reject the transplanted islet cells, leading to a loss of cell function and a return to insulin dependence.