London, July 11 (QNA) - Researchers have announced the development of a new drug called Tepilizumab, which has shown promising potential in delaying the onset of Type 1 Diabetes for several years, a breakthrough that could change the trajectory of treatment for this chronic autoimmune disease.

The drug works by reprogramming the immune system and reducing the activity of immune cells that attack the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells. The first patient in the United Kingdom has already begun receiving this therapy.

Clinical trials indicate that Tepilizumab can delay the progression of the disease by one to three years, providing patients with additional time before requiring insulin therapy.

The drug has received approval from regulatory health authorities in the United States, and its use is currently being assessed in other countries.

Experts emphasize that Tepilizumab is most effective when administered early in the disease, before the appearance of typical symptoms and while blood sugar levels remain within normal ranges.

Early detection of the disease is possible through simple blood tests that search for pancreatic autoantibodies, which signal the beginning of the immune attack.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the pancreas cells responsible for insulin production, leading to blood sugar regulation issues and increasing the risk of severe complications such as blindness and kidney failure. (QNA)