5-ALA is being studied for its possible involvement in cellular metabolic status, mitochondrial function, and the epigenomic environment. At the current stage of research, it is becoming clearer that 5-ALA may help regulate epigenomic abnormalities in a direction similar to HDAC inhibition, but clinical trials specifically aimed at curing diabetes will still be necessary in the future.

However, at present, it is not appropriate to describe 5-ALA as an established HDAC inhibitor. In the diabetes mouse study that demonstrated complete remission, the HDAC inhibitor used was givinostat. 5-ALA should be explained not as an HDAC inhibitor itself, but as a candidate that may help normalize abnormal cellular states in a direction similar to HDAC inhibition.

Therefore, for the general public, we currently describe it as follows: “5-ALA is being studied as a new treatment candidate with attention to safety, in connection with research on diabetes stem cells and fundamental treatment using HDAC inhibitors.”