Table 5.

Comparison between pig islets and stem cell (SC)-derived β cells for the imminent cure of type 1 diabetes.

	Pig islets	SC-derived β cells
Advantages	Promise to overcome donor shortage Unlimited supply Encapsulation to render long-term function Sufficient insulin secretion capacity for long-term survival in mouse, monkey, and human	Promise to overcome donor shortage Encapsulation to render long-term function Sufficient insulin secretion capacity for long-term survival in mice
Disadvantages	Immunosuppression a major challenge High risk of rejection PERV infection	Immunosuppression a major challenge, as these are never tested prevalent immunosuppressant (Edmonton’s protocol) Scaling up: challenging—only a promise Not tested in large animals (viz nonhuman primates)