The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved teplizumab, a groundbreaking treatment that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes by an average of nearly three years in people identified as being in the early stages of the disease.

The medication, marketed as Tzield and developed by Sanofi, will be available through the NHS for eligible children aged eight and older as well as adults who have not yet developed symptoms but show early signs of the condition.Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.

Unlike traditional treatments that focus on managing blood sugar after diagnosis, teplizumab targets the underlying immune process responsible for the disease.

Health experts describe the approval as a major milestone because it is the first therapy capable of delaying the progression of type 1 diabetes rather than simply treating its symptoms.The treatment is administered through intravenous infusions once daily for 14 consecutive days, with each session lasting about 30 minutes.

NICE estimates that approximately 1,100 people could benefit from the therapy during its first year of availability, with around 820 eligible patients annually thereafter.

Organizations including Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D welcomed the decision, describing it as a historic step toward preventing type 1 diabetes in the future.

Experts also emphasized the importance of early screening programs, which can identify individuals at risk and allow them to receive the treatment before symptoms develop.According to clinical evidence reviewed by NICE, teplizumab can significantly extend the period before insulin therapy becomes necessary.