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Drug that delays onset of type 1 diabetes approved in England and Wales
TL;DR
Teplizumab, the first drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, is approved for use in England and Wales. This breakthrough allows high-risk individuals to postpone the disease's onset by up to three years.
Key points
- Teplizumab is the first drug approved to delay type 1 diabetes onset.
- The drug is available on the NHS in England and Wales.
- It can postpone the disease's onset for up to three years.
- This breakthrough benefits high-risk individuals, especially children and teenagers.
- The approval represents a major advancement in diabetes treatment.
Mentioned in this story
EnglandWalesNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence
teplizumab
The world’s first drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes is to be made available on the NHS in England and Wales, in the biggest breakthrough in tackling the disease for more than a century.
Millions of people have type 1 diabetes worldwide, which typically emerges during childhood or adolescence, and occurs when the pancreas makes little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow glucose to enter cells to produce energy.
The immunotherapy, teplizumab, does not cure type 1 diabetes, but postpones its onset for as long as three years, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which gave the drug the green light on Tuesday.
Its arrival marks a huge step forward. The therapy gives those deemed at high risk of symptomatic type 1 (stage 3) diabetes the chance to delay its onset for the first time in the history of the disease.
By delaying the onset, people will benefit from years of extra time before facing the heavy demands of lifelong diabetes management. Children and teenagers in particular will have more time to reach key developmental milestones before that point.
Nice approved the drug for use in adults and children aged eight and above with early, pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes (stage 2), enabling them to live more normal lives for longer.
The only other treatment for the disease – insulin – was discovered 105 years ago and does not alter the course of the disease. It simply replaces what patients are missing.
“Today’s landmark approval of teplizumab marks the start of a new age of type 1 diabetes treatment,” said Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at the charity Diabetes UK. “For the first time in 100 years, we are moving beyond insulin, with a medicine that targets the root cause of the condition.
“This is an extraordinary moment for celebration in the type 1 diabetes community, and represents a shift towards a future where type 1 diabetes can be prevented altogether.”
Teplizumab, also known as tzield and made by Sanofi, will offer those in the early stages of type 1 diabetes years “free from the relentless demands” of managing the condition with insulin, as well as valuable time to prepare, Robertson said.
“Detecting type 1 diabetes early, before symptoms appear, is key to unlocking these benefits and our focus now is ensuring fair and equitable access for everyone who is eligible.”
Teplizumab trains the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells. It is given through a drip into a vein once a day – which takes about 30 minutes – for 14 days in a row.
Q&A
What is teplizumab and how does it work?
Teplizumab is an immunotherapy drug that postpones the onset of type 1 diabetes for up to three years in individuals at high risk.
Who will benefit from teplizumab in England and Wales?
Individuals deemed at high risk of developing symptomatic type 1 diabetes will benefit from teplizumab, allowing them extra time before managing the disease.
How significant is the approval of teplizumab for type 1 diabetes treatment?
The approval of teplizumab marks the biggest breakthrough in type 1 diabetes treatment in over a century, offering a new way to delay the disease's onset.
What are the implications of delaying type 1 diabetes onset for children?
Delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes gives children and teenagers more time to reach developmental milestones before facing lifelong diabetes management.
