Weekly Ultra-Long-Acting Insulin Icodec Offers Glycemic Control Comparable to Daily Glargine

Insulin icodec is an investigational “ultra-long-acting” insulin with a 1-week half-life and dosing interval. Studies have shown that it controls glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) as effectively as once-daily insulin glargine, in combination with noninsulin treatments. Some studies showed a nonsignificant trend toward greater hypoglycemia with icodec.

In the manufacturer's first study of icodec plus fast-acting prandial insulin, 600 patients with type 2 diabetes (HbA_1c levels, 7.0%–10.0%) who had been taking a basal-bolus insulin regimen were randomized to once-weekly icodec or once-daily glargine. All patients received two to four daily doses of insulin aspart and continued their pretrial noninsulin diabetes medications, except sulfonylureas …