The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICER) has announced that Teplizumab, a disease-modifying therapy for type 1 diabetes for up to 3 years, is to be made available on the NHS.
England is the first country in Europe to recommend it's use through a health technology appraisal.
Clinical trial evidence reviewed by an independent NICE committee shows that teplizumab (also known as Tzield and made by Sanofi) can delay the onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes by an average of nearly 3 years.
It has been recommended in final draft guidance for children aged 8 and over and adults who have type 1 diabetes in its early, pre-symptomatic stage (stage 2).
By delaying the onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes (stage 3), people will benefit from extra time before taking on the demands of lifelong diabetes management, and children and young people in particular can have more time to reach key developmental milestones before that point.
It is estimated that around 1,100 people could be eligible for teplizumab in the first year, decreasing to a steady state of approximately 820 eligible patients annually from year 3 onwards.
Teplizumab will be available to NHS patients in England within 90 days of publication of NICE final guidance. Patients in Wales will be able to access it 60 days from today (Tuesday 23 June 2026).
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said:
"This is a genuinely exciting recommendation. For the first time, we have a treatment that can give people diagnosed at an early stage of type 1 diabetes precious extra time before they need to manage the full demands of the condition.
"The evidence shows teplizumab can delay the onset of symptomatic diabetes by an average of nearly three years. As always, our decision is rigorous, transparent and based on the best available evidence, striking a balance between clinical benefit and value for the taxpayer.
"We're pleased to be able to recommend it for NHS use, and we will continue to scan the horizon for further innovations so we can continue to get the best care to patients as quickly as possible."
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research and clinical at Diabetes UK, said:
"Today’s landmark approval of teplizumab marks the start of a new age of type 1 diabetes treatment. For the first time in 100 years, we are moving beyond insulin, with a medicine that targets the root cause of the condition. This is an extraordinary moment for celebration in the type 1 diabetes community and represents a shift towards a future where type 1 diabetes can be prevented altogether."
NICE estimates that approximately 1,100 people could be eligible for treatment with teplizumab in the first year, of whom around 555 are expected to take up the offer. This figure is higher than in subsequent years because it includes people already identified through current screening trials who are waiting for a treatment option to become available. From year 3, the eligible population is expected to stabilise at around 820 people annually, with approximately 490 expected to take up treatment.
