Type 1 diabetes drug that can delay diagnosis by YEARS approved for NHS patients as health chiefs hail 'incredible moment'

A type 1 diabetes drug that can delay diagnosis by three years has been approved for use by NHS patients, in what health chiefs have hailed as an "incredible moment".

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has granted approval for teplizumab, marking the most significant advancement in type 1 diabetes treatment in over a century.

The immunotherapy, which can postpone the emergence of symptomatic diabetes by up to three years, will now be accessible through the NHS across England and Wales.

This groundbreaking medication represents the first therapy capable of delaying the condition's progression, offering patients diagnosed at an early stage precious additional time before confronting the demanding realities of lifelong disease management.

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NICE gave the drug its approval on Tuesday, clearing the way for both adults and children aged eight to benefit.

Type 1 diabetes affects millions globally and typically develops during childhood or adolescence, occurring when the pancreas produces little or no insulin.

Teplizumab, manufactured by Sanofi and also marketed as Tzield, functions by training the immune system to cease its assault on pancreatic cells.

The treatment is administered intravenously once daily, with each session lasting approximately half an hour.

Patients receive the medication over a consecutive 14-day period, with dosages beginning low before gradually increasing. Once this fortnight-long course concludes, no further treatment is required.

The drug is approved for those with early, pre-symptomatic stage 2 type 1 diabetes, allowing them to maintain more normal lives for an extended period.

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Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, described the approval as a watershed moment for patients.

"Today's landmark approval of teplizumab marks the start of a new age of type 1 diabetes treatment," she said.

"For the first time in 100 years, we are moving beyond insulin, with a medicine that targets the root cause of the condition."

She added: "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."

Prior to teplizumab, insulin remained the sole treatment option since its discovery 105 years ago, merely replacing what patients lack rather than altering the disease's trajectory.

Karen Addington, chief executive of Breakthrough T1D, hailed the decision as an "incredible moment" for those affected by the condition.

"If it were your child or someone you love, you would want to do everything possible to give them more years without the daily burden of managing this relentless condition. We now have a treatment that can help make that possible," she said.

Helen Knight, NICE's director of medicines evaluation, emphasised that the approval followed a rigorous and transparent assessment process, balancing clinical benefits against value for taxpayers.

Sanofi has reached a commercial agreement with NHS England, securing the medication at a confidential discounted price.

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