Abstract: A safeguarded integrated circuit includes two supply electrodes, an output electrode and an input electrode. Between two of the electrodes there is provided a protection circuit having a lateral bipolar transistor, the emitter and collector zones of which are connected respectively to the said electrodes. The bipolar transistor is provided in a region which is surrounded by the substrate which region serves as a base zone and has a conductivity type opposite to that of the substrate. A connection contact connected to the emitter is provided on this region and a modulatable resistance is formed between the connection contact and the active base zone by the region.