Boy, 10, among first in the world to receive life-changing Type 1 diabetes drug at AdventHealth

Published date: |
Estimated read time: |
Authored by:
  • Kristi Powers
Topics:
Care Community Perspectives
Anderson Ata and his family collage

Anderson Ata is a typical 10-year-old who likes playing basketball and hanging out with his friends, but on New Year’s Eve he got really sick.

Konda Reddy, MD
Dr. Konda M. Reddy is the medical director of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at AdventHealth for Children.

“I took a couple of covers from my cabinet and put them on me, waited about an hour and I was still shaking and I didn’t know what was happening,” Anderson Ata explained to FOX 35 News Anchor Amy Kaufeldt.

Doctors diagnosed Anderson with early stages of Type 1 diabetes. The family was referred to Dr. Konda Reddy to administer the life-changing monoclonal antibody treatment. Anderson became the seventh patient in the world, and the first in Orlando, to receive the new FDA-approved drug called Tzield.

To determine eligibility for the treatment, a simple blood test is performed. TZIELD, is the first drug that can delay the progression of Type 1 diabetes by up to three years in adults and up to eight years in children.

AdventHealth was a part of a large global research study which led to TZIELD gaining FDA-approval. When TZIELD became available on the market at the beginning of the year, AdventHealth was one of a handful of hospital systems administering the groundbreaking treatment.

Anderson Ata Type 1 diabetes Tzield infusion days collage
Anderson took photos each day of his 14-day Tzield infusion treatment and says some days were better than others.

Learn more about how the treatment is given and how Anderson is doing post treatment, here.

Choose the health content that’s right for you, and get it delivered right in your inbox.

Recent News