Drug to delay type 1 diabetes onset approved in England and Wales
6 reported
The world’s first drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes has been approved for use on the NHS in England and Wales, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). The immunotherapy, teplizumab, does not cure the disease but postpones its onset for up to three years, Nice stated in its Tuesday approval. The drug is intended for adults and children aged eight and above with early, pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes (stage 2). Teplizumab, also known as tzield and made by Sanofi, trains the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells and is administered via a daily intravenous drip for 14 consecutive days. Nice’s decision marks the first time a treatment has been approved that targets the root cause of the condition rather than simply replacing insulin, which was discovered 105 years ago. Sanofi has agreed a confidential discounted price with NHS England for the drug, according to The Guardian.
What’s reported
Teplizumab is the world’s first drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, approved for NHS use in England and Wales.
The drug postpones onset for up to three years, according to Nice.
It is approved for adults and children aged eight and above with early, pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes (stage 2).
Teplizumab is given via a daily intravenous drip for 14 consecutive days.
The only other treatment, insulin, was discovered 105 years ago and does not alter the disease course.
Sanofi has agreed a confidential discounted price with NHS England, per The Guardian.
Key figures
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK
Karen Addington, chief executive of Breakthrough T1D
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice
Sanofi (manufacturer of teplizumab)
Sources: The Guardian
