UNC Children's Hospital is now offering infusions of Tzield (teplizumab), a therapy designed to prevent or delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes in children. This makes UNC Children's the first center in North Carolina to provide this innovative treatment. The therapy, administered through a 14-day infusion, aims to prolong the patient's ability to produce their own insulin, improve blood glucose control, and minimize medical complications for several years.
How Teplizumab Works
Teplizumab is a targeted immunotherapy that functions by modulating the immune cells responsible for attacking insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. By selectively "turning off" these aggressive immune cells, the drug aims to preserve beta cell function and delay the progression to insulin dependence.
"Therapies that can delay the onset of diabetes will help prevent the need for frequent blood sugars checks and multiple daily injections and reduce the risk of severely low or high blood sugars," said Nina Jain, MD, MBA, professor of pediatric endocrinology and medical director of the Pediatric Diabetes Program at UNC Children’s.
Clinical Trial Involvement and FDA Approval
UNC Children's Hospital has been actively involved in clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of teplizumab since 2019. Nina Jain, MD, MBA, and Ali Calikoglu, MD, played key roles in these trials, contributing to the eventual FDA approval of the therapy in November 2022. The PROTECT study, an international multi-site clinical trial, focused on children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 who were recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
First Infusion in North Carolina
In October 2024, UNC Children's Hospital administered the first teplizumab infusion in North Carolina to a patient with Stage 2 Type 1 diabetes. Patients at this stage have multiple autoimmune cells attacking pancreatic beta cells and slightly elevated blood glucose levels but do not yet require insulin injections. Without intervention, these patients are expected to progress to Stage 3 Type 1 diabetes, requiring multiple daily insulin doses, within 3 to 6 months.
Comprehensive Support for Patients and Families
Recognizing the intensive nature of the 14-day infusion regimen, UNC Children's Hospital provides comprehensive support to patients and their families. This includes accommodations at the Ronald McDonald House for families traveling long distances, as well as coordination with home health agencies to continue infusions at home once dosing is stable. Social workers, such as Katie Cooper, LCSW, LCAS, play a crucial role in arranging patient accommodations and providing additional support.
"Tzield is the first therapy currently available to children 8 years and older to delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes. Research in this field is steadily growing and we at UNC Children’s look forward to bringing these life-changing therapies to the children of North Carolina," said Jain.
