Key facts
- Teplizumab, the first drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, is now available on the NHS in England and Wales.
- The immunotherapy postpones symptomatic type 1 diabetes for up to three years.
- The drug is approved for adults and children aged eight and above with early, pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes (stage 2).
- Teplizumab works by training the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells.
- It is administered as a 14-day course of daily intravenous infusions.
- Sanofi has agreed a confidential discounted price with NHS England.
Teplizumab, the world's first drug designed to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, has been approved for use by the NHS in England and Wales. This immunotherapy treatment can provide individuals with up to three additional years before they develop symptoms and require lifelong insulin therapy. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) described the decision as "genuinely exciting," anticipating that hundreds of children and young people will benefit annually. Type 1 diabetes, which is distinct from type 2 diabetes, occurs when the body's immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Patients with type 1 diabetes must manage their blood glucose levels and administer insulin. The drug is indicated for adults and children aged eight and above who show early signs of immune system attack on their pancreas but have not yet developed full symptoms. Teplizumab is administered as a 14-day course of daily intravenous infusions. Sanofi, the drug's manufacturer, has negotiated a confidential discounted price with NHS England. Nice estimates that approximately 1,100 adults and children could be eligible in the first year, with around 820 per year expected to receive the treatment long-term once initial demand is met. Patient advocacy groups, such as Breakthrough T1D, have welcomed the approval, calling it "momentous" and highlighting the potential for the drug to give families precious extra time without the daily burden of managing the condition. Dima Boichak, who was one of the first patients to receive teplizumab on compassionate grounds, described the treatment as "hard work" but worthwhile for the gift of time it provided. His mother, Elena, emphasized that the biggest gift is "time being a normal kid, living a normal life." While Nice's guidance applies to England and Wales, Scotland's Medicines Consortium will issue its advice in early 2027. Routine testing for pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes is not yet standard on the NHS, though charities are campaigning for it. Most individuals diagnosed have no close family history, suggesting environmental factors may also play a role in triggering the disease.