A New Zealand biotech firm will implant insulin-producing pig cells on into eight diabetics as part of its continuing test of the new treatment for Type 1 diabetes.

Volunteer patients at the Middlemore Hospital in Auckland will be implanted with Living Cell Technologies' branded Diabecell in their abdomens, where it will secrete pig insulin to control their blood sugar levels. With the implants, the patient need not get insulin by injection.

The pig cells, which are encapsulated to prevent its rejection by the body's immune system, will be tried on one patient by October and doctors will observe the effects for several months before implanting the cells on the second volunteer.

One volunteer has been getting insulin from implanted pig cell for 10 years without any side effects, according to the company. The current trials, including a parallel test in Russia, aim to ensure the efficacy and safety of pig insulin on diabetics.

Diabecell comes from New Zealand pigs that are free from disease and bred by LCT in a clean facility.