A new class of insulin that can be taken once a week has shown promising results in managing blood sugar levels for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as per recent trials. This development could potentially reduce the daily injection burden for individuals with these conditions, experts have noted. However, one study highlighted higher rates of low blood sugar among type 1 diabetics using the weekly jab. The researchers have advised further evaluation when initiating these patients on the medication, as well as determining the optimal dosage.
The trials, presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid, focused on efsitora, a new insulin developed by Eli Lilly. The studies compared the effectiveness of efsitora with standard insulin, also known as degludec. Typically, insulin is prescribed to type 2 diabetics when other treatments fail to manage blood sugar levels adequately. For those with type 1 diabetes, daily insulin injections are necessary due to the pancreas’s inability to produce the hormone.
In one phase 3 trial led by Dr Richard Bergenstal from the International Diabetes Center, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, 343 type 1 diabetes patients received efsitora while 349 were on degludec. Both groups also took insulin lispro with meals. After 26 weeks, patients on efsitora saw a decrease in their mean glycated haemoglobin level from 7.88% to 7.41%, comparable to those on degludec. However, the efsitora group experienced a 21% higher risk of severe hypoglycaemia in the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Another phase 3 trial, conducted by doctors at the MultiCare Rockwood Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in the US, involved 928 type 2 diabetes patients who had not yet started insulin therapy. After a year, those on efsitora showed a decrease in mean HbA1c levels from 8.21% to 6.97%, similar to the degludec group. Researchers observed that weekly efsitora was as effective as daily degludec in controlling high blood sugar levels.
Katie Bareford, a senior clinical adviser at Diabetes UK, welcomed these findings, emphasising the potential benefits of reducing injection frequency for individuals managing diabetes. She highlighted the importance of further research to ensure the safety and effectiveness of once-weekly insulin injections for all those who could benefit from them. The results of these trials offer promising insights into improving diabetes management and enhancing the quality of life for patients dealing with these chronic conditions.