Senator Pushes to Re-classify Islet Cells | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 18, 2026 · 2m

Senator Mike Lee is racing against bureaucratic delays to reclassify pancreatic islet cells — the insulin-producing organs destroyed in Type 1 diabetes — from FDA-regulated drugs to medical organs, unlocking faster, more accessible transplants. His legislation, paired with a push for immediate HHS administrative action, aims to bypass slow Congress and save lives now, especially as other nations already handle these transplants more efficiently. While patients still need immunosuppressants, promising research into safer alternatives is underway — all part of a bold effort to give thousands of…