TZIELD

Also known as: teplizumab-mzwv

What is TZIELD?

Tzield is a medicine prescribed to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes – the stage when the body can’t make enough insulin on its own and requires insulin injections. Tzield is for adults and children 8 years of age and older who have stage 2 type 1 diabetes.

Candidates for Tzield must be at least 8 years of age and have tested positive for two or more type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies, have abnormal blood sugar levels and do not have type 2 diabetes.

Tzield was developed by Provention Bio and Sanofi, and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2022.

What happens during the treatment?

Tzield is given by an intravenous infusion daily for 14 consecutive days. Infusions will be given by a nurse, who prepares the infusion and monitors the child afterwards.

Is any special preparation needed?

Families will want to select a two-week time period when they can participate in the daily infusions.

Before starting treatment and during treatment, the healthcare team will conduct blood tests to check the patient’s liver and complete blood counts. During and after treatment with Tzield, the care team will monitor the child for side effects and treat these if needed. Should liver problems develop, or if an infection arises or blood counts remain low, the care team may temporarily or completely stop treatment with Tzield.

What are the risk factors?

• Cytokine release syndrome (CRS): Signs and symptoms may start during the first five days of Tzield treatment and could include fever, nausea, feeling tired (fatigue), headache, muscle and joint pain, or increased liver enzymes in the patient’s blood. Please advise the child’s healthcare team immediately if the patient develops signs and symptoms of CRS during treatment.

• Decrease in white blood cells: Tzield may cause a decrease in a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. A decrease in white blood cells is a serious, but common side effect that can affect the patient’s ability to fight infections. A decrease in white blood cell counts can happen after your first dose. Your white blood cell counts will start to go back to normal after your fifth dose of Tzield. Some people may develop longer and more severe decreases in lymphocytes.

Reviewed by: Adriana Carrillo Iregui, MD

This page was last updated on: March 21, 2024 01:10 PM

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