Eight-Year-Old Hugo – Living with Type 1 Diabetes and Participating in the ProTrans Study

May 15, 2025

NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell") is featured in the Future Healthcare – Focus on Diabetes supplement of the Swedish national newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, through an article highlighting eight-year-old Hugo Wahlbeck, who is currently enrolled in the ongoing paediatric study with ProTrans – the Company’s leading investigational therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

The article, written in collaboration with the patient advocacy group Together Against Diabetes 1 (T.A.D.1), recounts Hugo and his family’s journey since his diagnosis in October 2024 and their experience participating in the clinical trial. Although the family does not know whether Hugo received ProTrans or placebo, they describe a life change for the better, with stable blood sugar levels, reduced anxiety, and significantly fewer night time alarms.

“We even have 24-hour periods without a single alarm,” Hugo’s mother Anna shares in the article.

ProTrans is an allogeneic cell therapy based on mesenchymal stromal cells derived from umbilical cord tissue and administered as a single intravenous infusion. The goal is to halt disease progression and preserve the patient’s endogenous insulin production. Previous clinical trials in adults have demonstrated that patients receiving ProTrans maintain significantly higher levels of insulin production compared to placebo, with effects lasting for at least five years.

The ongoing paediatric trial, ProTrans-Young, is sponsored by Uppsala University with Professor Per-Ola Carlsson as the principal investigator. For more information (in Swedish), please visit: nextcellpharma.com/studie

The article is attached to this press release and is also available in full at nextcellpharma.com, SvD Vårdfokus Diabetes. The space in the newspaper supplement was funded by NextCell, but the content was produced by an independent writer in collaboration with T.A.D.1.

For more information about NextCell Pharma, please contact
Mathias Svahn, CEO
Patrik Fagerholm, CFO
Tel: +46 8 735 55 95
E-mail: info@nextcellpharma.com
Website:www.nextcellpharma.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/NextCell-Pharma
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NextCellPharma


For more information about Cellaviva, please contact
Sofie Falk Jansson, CEO Cellaviva AB
Tel: +46 8 735 20 10
E-mail: info@cellaviva.se
Website:www.cellaviva.se


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cellavivasverige
Instagram: https://www,instagram.com/cellaviva

Certified Adviser
The company's shares are listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market.
RedEye AB is assigned as Certified Adviser.

About NextCell Pharma AB
NextCell Pharma is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing ProTrans, a patent-protected platform based on allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord. Using a proprietary selection algorithm, ProTrans delivers optimised cell tailored to specific indications.  In type 1 diabetes, a single infusion has been shown to preserve insulin production and delay disease progression for at least five years.  A Phase III trial is planned to commence upon securing a commercial partner. ProTrans is also being evaluated for other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. NextCell’s subsidiaries include Cellaviva, Scandinavia’s largest private stem cell bank, and QVance, the Nordic region’s first dedicated provider of quality services for developers of advanced therapies.

Download attachmentRead full press release on Cision (external link)
2026-02-03
Seven-year follow-up data from ProTrans-Repeat demonstrate sustained disease-modifying effects of ProTrans in type 1 diabetes
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) today announces long-term follow-up data from the ProTrans-Repeat study showing sustained preservation of endogenous insulin production in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. The data extends to approximately 6 years after the last ProTrans infusion, corresponding to 7 to 7.5 years since the first infusion.
Read moreRead more
2026-01-21
NextCell provides strategic update on focused market progression, highlighting Hong Kong as gateway to the Chinese market
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) provides a strategic update on its focused market progression strategy, aimed at accelerating value creation by advancing ProTrans™ in adult patients, where NextCell already has a strong clinical foundation, while simultaneously strengthening the company’s global partnering position. This approach builds on NextCell’s original development strategy and is designed to create multiple independent value drivers for the company.
Read moreRead more
2026-01-21
NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING IN NEXTCELL PHARMA AB (PUBL)
The shareholders of NextCell Pharma AB (publ), reg. no. 556965-8361, (the "Company") are hereby invited to attend an extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday, 10th of February 2026, at 10:00 CET at Novum-huset, floor 6 (lift E), Hälsovägen 7, Huddinge. Registration for the meeting will commence at 09.30 CET.
Read moreRead more
2026-01-21
NextCell decides to propose a directed share issue of SEK 15 million
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, BELARUS, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH KOREA, SWITZERLAND OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR WOULD REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR ANY OTHER MEASURES. PLEASE REFER TO “IMPORTANT INFORMATION” AT THE END OF THE PRESS RELEASE. The Board of Directors of NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) has resolved to propose to the extraordinary general meeting (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) to resolve on a directed share issue comprising a total of 15,000,000 shares to a number of strategic investors at a subscription price of SEK 1.00 per share (the “Directed Issue”). Participating investors include both new investors and a number of larger existing shareholders. The Extraordinary General Meeting is planned to be held on Tuesday, 10 February 2026. Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting will be announced separately.
Read moreRead more
2026-01-15
Six-year data demonstrate a durable disease-modifying effect of ProTrans in type 1 diabetes
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) today announces that six-year follow-up data indicate that a single infusion of ProTrans provides a long-lasting and clinically relevant preservation of endogenous insulin production in patients with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Patients treated with ProTrans continue to exhibit clinically relevant levels of stimulated C-peptide well beyond expected levels as seen with the natural course of the disease.
Read moreRead more
2025-12-09
NextCell in Swedish Life Science Delegation to Hong Kong
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or “the Company”) is participating in the Swedish life science delegation to Hong Kong on 10–12 December 2025, organised by the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Sweden and the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organisation (HKBIO). The delegation brings together leading Swedish companies to deepen collaborations in research, clinical development, industrial production, and investment in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Read moreRead more
2025-12-02
NextCell initiates collaboration with OptiCell – strengthening its cell-handling operations
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or “the Company”) has entered into a collaboration agreement with OptiCell Solutions AB (“OptiCell”) regarding the handling, freezing, storage, and transport of cell products used for research and development. The collaboration enables NextCell to further leverage its existing infrastructure and expertise in advanced cell handling, also beyond its own clinical projects.
Read moreRead more
2025-11-20
NextCell Pharma appoints Eric Gustafsson as new CFO
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or “the Company”) today announces the appointment of Eric Gustafsson as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With extensive experience in leading financial transformations and industrial expansion phases within the pharmaceutical industry, Eric brings both strategic and operational expertise that will further strengthen NextCell’s continued growth and development.
Read moreRead more