Weekly Insulin Doses Simplify Diabetes Care in Successful Phase 3 Trials
Diabetic individuals who are weary of their daily insulin injections may soon find relief in a once-a-week injection. A year-long phase three clinical trial has demonstrated that a weekly version of insulin is equally proficient in managing the condition as the daily regimen.
For individuals dealing with type 1 diabetes, maintaining blood glucose levels necessitates daily subcutaneous insulin injections, particularly at mealtimes. This routine often demands significant lifestyle modifications, and many patients express difficulties in adhering to it, potentially jeopardizing their well-being.
Breakthrough in Insulin Innovation
In recent years, scientists have developed an alternative insulin variant designed for weekly administration, offering a less intrusive option for patients. Referred to as icodec, this extended-release insulin maintains a steady presence in the bloodstream with a half-life of approximately seven days. Encouraging results from phase two trials have suggested that weekly injections are as effective as daily ones.
A larger phase three trial has now corroborated these advantages. The study involved 582 participants with type 1 diabetes, with half receiving weekly injections of icodec and the other half receiving daily shots of the common insulin variant degludec. Both groups also received a short-acting insulin, aspart, during mealtimes.
Comparing Weekly Icodec to Daily Insulin
After 26 weeks, the researchers assessed the patients’ progress by examining HbA1C levels, a widely used marker for diabetes management. Those receiving weekly icodec injections displayed only a 0.05% difference in HbA1C levels compared to those taking daily insulin. The research team considered this difference negligible, especially given the reduced frequency of injections.
On the downside, the icodec group experienced a higher rate of hypoglycemic episodes (low blood glucose levels) compared to the degludec group. Nevertheless, the team noted that these incidents were infrequent in both groups and were typically managed with quick carbohydrate intake. There was one reported death in the icodec group, but investigators determined it was unrelated.
Professor David Russell-Jones, the lead author of the study, commented, “Our findings show that weekly icodec injections are not inferior to once-daily injections of degludec in reducing HbA1C after 26 weeks. Although there is a slightly higher rate of hypoglycemia with this regimen, we found this to be manageable. We conclude that this new insulin may play a role in reducing the daily burden of basal injections for patients managing type 1 diabetes.”
The phase three clinical trial’s completion brings this weekly insulin variant one step closer to becoming accessible to patients. However, the team emphasizes that additional real-world studies are necessary before it can be made available.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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