An Investigational Once-Weekly Basal Insulin

For many patients with diabetes, a deterrent to insulin use is the need for daily injections. In this industry-supported, double-blind trial, researchers examined the effect of insulin icodec, a not-yet-U.S. FDA–approved basal insulin analogue that can be injected once weekly. The trial included 247 patients (mean age, 60) with type 2 diabetes and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) level between 7.0% and 9.5% while taking metformin, with or without a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor.

Patients were randomized to receive either 10 units of insulin glargine daily or 70 units of insulin icodec weekly; doses were titrated weekly, with a fasting glucose goal of 70 to 108 mg/dL. During 6 months of treatment, mean HbA_1c fell by about 1.2% in both group…