NHS approves breakthrough drug that can delay type 1 diabetes for years
‘Groundbreaking’ drug could slow down progression of type 1 diabetes
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved teplizumab (Tzield) for use in the NHS, marking a significant advancement in type 1 diabetes treatment.
This first-of-its-kind therapy can delay the onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes by an average of nearly three years, offering patients valuable time before needing aggressive management.
Teplizumab is approved for children aged eight and over and adults who have early-stage type 1 diabetes before symptoms appear, training the immune system to prevent it from attacking pancreatic cells.
The treatment involves a one-off course of daily infusions over 14 days, with an estimated 1,100 people eligible in the first year.
Diabetes UK has hailed the approval as a “landmark moment” and the “start of a new age of type 1 diabetes treatment,” with ongoing studies to screen and identify eligible individuals.
