New diabetes drug being made available on NHS
A drug that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes is being made available on the NHS after our patients were the first to receive the medication in the UK.
Trialled at the Clinical Research Facility in our Children’s Hospital, Teplizumab delayed the condition in patients, including Imogen Norman, aged 12 (pictured above) and Sam, aged 15 (pictured below).
Both were a part of the ELSA study (Early Surveillance for Autoimmune Diabetes), in which patients were given the drug, which helps calm the immune system to slow its attack of the pancreas.
Welcoming the news about Teplizumab being available in England and Wales, Imogen’s mum Amy said: “For us, Teplizumab has been incredible, and we’re so pleased that more children like Imogen will now get the chance to enjoy a normal childhood before facing the realities of type 1 diabetes.
“Imogen was always going to develop type 1 diabetes, but thanks to research, we’ve been able to slow down the process and prepare. Being forewarned is being forearmed – we know what is coming, but we're not scared."
Louise, mum of Sam who was first to receive the drug, said:“He had his course of Teplizumab in November 2024, with no complications. He is currently well and looking forward to his GCSEs next year and enjoys 10 pin bowling, film making, Explorers and video gaming.
“We’re really pleased that other families will now be able to be offered this treatment, so that more children will be able to delay starting insulin and can enjoy their childhood and good health longer.”
The study is co-funded by charities Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D and led by researchers at University of Birmingham who include Dr Renuka Dias, also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist working at our Children’s Hospital.
“The approval of Teplizumab by NICE offers people with early-stage type 1 diabetes to delay the need for insulin potentially for several years,” said Dr Dias, who is also an Honorary Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Birmingham and the Lead Paediatrician for the ELSA study.
“This represents a genuine step-change in how we think about the management of this relentless condition and hope that in time we can move closer to managing Type 1 diabetes without insulin as the first-line therapy.”
Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body's own immune system starts attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
People with type 1 diabetes must monitor their blood glucose levels and administer insulin, either through injections or a pump, to replace the hormone their bodies can no longer produce enough of.
Amy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13. She discovered via the ELSA study that her Imogen is in the early stages of type 1 diabetes and has been able to slow its progression with teplizumab.
Amy added: “Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition that brings real challenges. It affects every aspect of daily life, so any opportunity to delay its onset is valuable. If teplizumab had been available to me before I was diagnosed, I would have taken it hands down.”