Living Cell Technologies (ASX: LCT) expects to hear on or after August 8 whether it can proceed with a New Zealand trial of its encapsulated porcine islet cell product, DiabeCell.

The New Zealand Minister for Health, David Cunliffe, has sought independent advice from the country's National Health Committee (NHC) on whether to authorise the phase I/IIa clinical trial.

LCT said in a statement it had already received approval from NZ regulatory bodies such as the regional ethics committee, the Gene Technology Advisory Committee and International Accreditation New Zealand.

It has also received approval from Medsafe, the regulatory body that approved the manufacture for human use of encapsulated porcine cells.

LCT is currently running a small clinical trial at the Sklifosovsky Institute in Moscow.