For the first time in Canada, Tzield (teplizumab) has been administered to children* – two patients at BC Children’s Hospital with early-stage type 1 diabetes (T1D).
This milestone matters because it shows real progress toward something the T1D community has waited decades to see – treatments that can change the course of the disease, not just manage it.
Tzield is designed to delay progression of T1D in people who show early signs of the disease but do not yet need insulin. Clinical studies show it can delay the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes by a median of about two years in eligible adults and children.
For families, that time matters. It can mean fewer medical emergencies and more time to prepare for what comes next.
Further promising news out of the United States is that the FDA has approved Tzield for children aged one year and above with stage 2 T1D. In Canada, Tzield is currently approved for age 8 and above. You can read Sanofi’s press release here.
Why this matters beyond two patients
The fact that Tzield has now been given to children in Canada is an encouraging sign that more people are beginning to benefit from the first disease‑modifying therapy for T1D. While access remains limited, it signals a shift toward earlier action – before insulin is needed – rather than waiting for diagnosis.
A small number of adults have already received the drug since it was approved by Health Canada in 2025. What’s new – and meaningful – is that children are now beginning to benefit as well.
How can Canadians benefit from Tzield?
To be eligible for Tzield, one has to be identified through screening as having early stage T1D. Screening for T1D identifies the presence of certain autoantibodies, which can mean someone is at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
In Canada, family members of someone with type 1 diabetes can be screened through TrialNet (for first- and second-degree relatives anywhere in Canada) and by FEDERATE-Can (for first-degree relatives in Quebec). However, only 10-15% of newly diagnosed individuals have a family history, so familial screening alone will miss over 85% of new cases.
Those without a first or second degree relative with T1D can discuss www.uncovert1d.ca with their healthcare providers for more options.
Although approved as a therapy by Health Canada, in January Canada’s Drug Agency has announced a recommendation not to reimburse Tzield.
Breakthrough T1D Canada will continue to invest in early-detection research and advocate for better access to screening and disease-modifying treatments.
*The medication teplizumab was provided on a compassionate basis by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi as part of a research-clinical collaboration
