The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new immunosuppressive drug that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes by two years or longer, according to Healthline. Teplizumab, also known by the brand name Tzield, is administered intravenously every 14 days and is approved for adults and children with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. When type 1 diabetes progresses to stage 3, patients become symptomatic and require insulin.
Diabetes researchers hail the drug as a major breakthrough with the potential to prevent irreversible damage and dramatically reduce the disease burden for patients.