U.S. regulators have approved a “game-changing” immunotherapy medicine proven to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes. According to experts, teplizumab represents a “new era” in treatment, as it targets the underlying cause of the disease rather than just its symptoms.
As per BBC, it works by reprograming the immune system to prevent it from mistakenly targeting insulin-producing pancreatic cells. It could pave the path for approval decisions in other nations.
Approximately 8.7 million people worldwide have type 1 diabetes. This illness affects 400,000 people in the United Kingdom, including more than 29,000 children. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system (which normally combats germs and viruses) targets insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Insulin is essential because it helps the body utilize sugar for energy, and the majority of current treatments involve daily blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections or infusions. In 2019, a clinical trial revealed that the medicine prevented the disease from manifesting in high-risk individuals for an average of three years.
According to experts, this delay can be rather important, especially for young people who would not have to take daily insulin injections or monitor their blood sugar levels as closely during this time.
They also propose that patients could maintain appropriate blood sugar levels for a longer period of time, giving them more time to avoid repercussions of high blood sugar, such as renal and eye damage.
As per BBC, In 2014, Peter Baldwin, the son of Beth Baldwin, died due to a diabetic ketoacidosis emergency. Undiagnosed type 1 diabetes was causing his body to shut down. He was only 13 years old.
Beth stated, “Such a medicine would be life-altering… Currently, you cannot prevent people from developing type 1 diabetes. However, delaying the start… would be incredible – especially for children… It means three years without active management of the problem, and it may delay it long enough for more research. It is an enormous step forward.”
Beth now works for the charity JDRF UK to raise awareness of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, which include extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme fatigue, and unintentional weight loss.
The JDRF UK organization, which partially funded the trial, was represented by Rachel Connor, who stated, “This is a game-changer. This marks the beginning of a new era in the management of type 1 diabetes, in my opinion.”
“This is the first time we’ve been able to go to the root of why the sickness occurs and help alter the process, so we’re no longer simply treating the symptoms. Once we’re able to do that, we’ll be able to develop ways to do it better and for longer.”
