The Australasian Type 1 diabetes Immunotherapy Collaborative (ATIC) welcomes news that Tzield® (teplizumab), the first medicine designed to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes has been approved for use in Australia. This marks a major breakthrough after more than 100 years of relying solely on insulin to treat type 1 diabetes. 

A New Era in Type 1 Diabetes 

Unlike existing treatments that manage blood glucose levels after diagnosis, Tzield targets the underlying autoimmune process. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Tzield works by reducing this immune attack, helping to preserve remaining beta cells and delay disease progression. 

In pivotal clinical trials, a single 14-day course of teplizumab delayed the need for insulin by an average of 2–3 years, with some individuals experiencing even longer delays. 

ATIC’s Professor John Wentworth says: “This is a landmark announcement for people with early-stage type 1 diabetes and represents a major step forward in the field. It is incredibly rewarding to see more than four decades of research now translating into a treatment option available here in Australia.” 

Benefits of Delaying Type 1 Diabetes 

Delaying the onset of insulin requiring (Stage 3) type 1 diabetes offers meaningful advantages: 

• Extra years free from daily insulin injections and blood glucose monitoring 

• Reduced burden of intensive diabetes management  

• Lower risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis 

• Improved quality of life for patients and their families 

• More time for further advances in treatment and potential cures 

Who Will Tzield Be For? 

Tzield is approved for use in people with Stage 2 type 1 diabetes. This early stage is defined by: 

• Presence of two or more type 1 diabetes autoantibodies (detected through screening) 

• Evidence of abnormal blood glucose levels 

• No current need for insulin and absence of classic diabetes symptoms 

Early Detection Is Key 

Tzield can only be used in individuals identified through screening as having Stage 2 type 1 diabetes. In Australia, people with a relative who has type 1 diabetes can access screening through Type1Screen. 

To learn more or register for a free, at-home screening test, visit: www.type1screen.org.

How Is It Administered? 

Tzield is given as a daily intravenous (IV) infusion over 14 consecutive days. Treatment is administered under medical supervision, typically in a hospital or specialist clinic. 

While most side effects are temporary and occur during or shortly after treatment, common ones include rash, headache, fatigue, nausea, flu-like symptoms, and temporary decreases in white blood cell counts. The medical team giving the infusion will monitor those receiving Tzield for side effects and provide any care and treatment required. 

Why This Matters 

For decades, type 1 diabetes management has focused on treating the condition after it fully develops. Tzield represents a fundamental shift, moving from reactive care to proactive intervention. 

For the type 1 diabetes community, the approval of Tzield offers new hope – proof that delaying the disease is possible and that changing its course may soon become a reality. 

Ongoing research 

Experts view this as the beginning of a new era in immune therapy for type 1 diabetes. There is further research in this field being undertaken around the world. ATIC are currently recruiting participants across Australia and New Zealand who have type 1 diabetes to participate in clinical trials of medications designed to protect beta cells.  For more information or to register your interest, please visit our clinical trials page below.