U.S. approves new drug addressing type 1 diabetes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a new therapy that slows the onset of type 1 diabetes.

"It targets one of the root causes of this type of diabetes and can slow the onset of the disease. Better still, the drug could be the herald of a new era in treating the condition," said a podcast of The Economist on Tuesday.

The drug, named Tzield, was authorized by the FDA to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in adults and pediatric patients 8 years and older who currently have stage 2 type 1 diabetes.

Tzield binds to certain immune system cells and delays progression to stage 3 type 1 diabetes, according to the FDA. Tzield may deactivate the immune cells that attack insulin-producing cells, while increasing the proportion of cells that help moderate the immune response.

The drug is administered by intravenous infusion once daily for 14 consecutive days.