New treatment to delay progression of type 1 diabetes approved in Australia

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Tzield (teplizumab) to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes for people aged 8 and above.

It is a significant step towards a brighter future for Australians impacted by type 1 diabetes and the beginning of a new era for type 1 treatment.

Tzield is now approved for people over the age of 8 years who are in stage 2 of type 1 diabetes progression.

In stage 2, the biological signs of type 1 are present in the blood and blood glucose levels have started to change, but there are no symptoms yet.

People with stage 2 will gradually progress to stage 3. This is when people begin to experience the symptoms – extreme thirst, fatigue, needing to urinate often, among others – and insulin treatment is required.

The progression from stage 2 to stage 3 can happen over months or years. Tzield is proven to slow this process by an average of two years, giving people more time without the daily load of managing type 1 with insulin therapy.

Unlike insulin, which is used to manage blood glucose levels after diagnosis, Tzield targets the disease process to delay progression to stage 3.

This approval highlights the importance of antibody testing for relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, to determine if they are at risk of developing type 1.

Type1Screen is a national program offering antibody testing. People eligible for Type1Screen:

• Aged over 2 years, AND
• Live in Australia, AND
• Have a relative diagnosed with type 1 diabetes OR
• Have previously had a positive antibody test

Being a Type1Screen participant gives you access to support and information from a team of diabetes experts.

“As someone living with type 1 diabetes and working closely within our community, I know firsthand the intense daily effort and dedication required to manage the complexities of this condition,” says Joanne Walsh, Digital Communications Lead at Diabetes Victoria.

“While this breakthrough won't alter my own management and routine, its impact on the broader community, my own children included, is profound.

“Paired with the opportunity to screen early and potentially offer our kids an average of two extra years free from the daily management of type 1 diabetes is an extraordinary gift of time.

“It is an historic shift from simply navigating the daily challenges of diabetes to being able to actively intervene and protect the health of our next generation.”

Learn more by speaking to one of our diabetes nurse educators at Diabetes Care Plus. Book an appointment today.