teplizumab (Tzield)

Indications

• indicated to delay the progression of diabetes mellitus type 1
• approved for adults & pediatric patients >= 8 years with stage 2 type 1 diabetes who want to delay the onset of stage 3, the irreversible stage when insulin- producing beta-cells lose ability to maintain normal glycemic control

Dosage

• premedicate & treat symptoms with antipyretics, antihistamines, &/or antiemetics

Adverse effects

• most common
  • lymphopenia, rash, leukopenia, headache
• hepatotoxicity
• warning of cytokine release syndrome

Mechanism of action

• anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody
• believed to work by deactivating immune cells that attack insulin-producing beta-cells, while increasing the proportion of cells that help moderate the immune response
• may delay clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes by months to years

More general terms

• endocrine agent
• monoclonal antibody