Breakthrough for diabetes treatment with immune system drug

Breakthrough for diabetes treatment as it emerges immune system drug can delay onset of the illness

• Study finds drug teplizumab can delay the onset of type one diabetes
• Researchers found this stopped diabetes developing for around two years
• Type one diabetes has nothing to do with lifestyle and is instead tied to genetics

A breakthrough drug can delay the onset of type one diabetes, a major study shows.

Teplizumab, which dampens down the immune system, was found to allow the body to continue making insulin. This stopped diabetes developing for around two years.

Unlike the type two form of the illness, type one has nothing to do with lifestyle and is instead tied to genetics.

The teplizumab treatment – given by a drip every day for two weeks – worked by staving off the destruction of insulin-producing cells. The breakthrough drug can delay the onset of type one diabetes, a major study shows [File photo]

‘As anyone with type one diabetes will tell you, and particularly for children who are most commonly affected, every day you can delay this disease is important,’ said Professor Kevan Herold who led the Yale University study.

The researchers conducted their trial on 76 patients, mostly aged between eight and 18. All were seen as high risk because relatives had diabetes.

The teplizumab treatment – given by a drip every day for two weeks – worked by staving off the destruction of insulin-producing cells.

Dr Elizabeth Robertson of Diabetes UK said the study was ‘incredibly exciting’ because it examined the root cause of an ilness affecting 400,000 Britons.

Teplizumab, which dampens down the immune system, was found to allow the body to continue making insulin. This stopped diabetes developing for around two years [File photo]

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