ReCET (re-cellularization via electroporation therapy) is a new procedure developed by Endogenex which releases electric pulses to regenerate cells in the lining of the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine that helps digest food, absorb water, and communicate information between the gut and the brain. The developers believe that this outpatient procedure could help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar and potentially reduce their dependence on insulin.

      In a small cohort study called EMINENT, 14 participants with type 2 diabetes, aged 28 to 75, who were taking long-acting basal insulin, underwent ReCET without any serious complications. After the procedure, they followed a calorie controlled liquid diet for two weeks and then started taking the GLP-1 receptor agonist medication semaglutide (the generic name for diabetes drugs Ozempic and Rybelus and weight loss drug Wegovy). The doses of the medications were slowly increased up to 1 mg per week. Over the course of the study, 86% of the participants were able to stop using insulin for up to a year after the ReCET procedure combined with the use of semaglutide. After 12 months of follow-up, it was found that A1C improved from 7.2% to 6.6%; fasting glucose levels improved from 158 mg/dL to 119 mg/d and liver fat percentage was reduced by greater than 50%.

      Dr. Jacques Bergman, the principal investigator, mentioned that the developers are working on further improving the procedure. ReCET, unlike a similar procedure called Revita DMR developed by Fractyl Health, does not use heat or cold to disrupt the intestinal tissue, potentially reducing the risk of complications. While semaglutide alone can sometimes help people with type 2 diabetes stop using insulin, the ReCET procedure may increase the chances of achieving this outcome.

      It is important to note that the study has not been published or peer-reviewed yet. Endogenex plans to conduct a randomized controlled trial in the future to confirm these results.