Basal insulin peglispro: Overview of a novel long-acting insulin with reduced peripheral effect resulting in a hepato-preferential action

The Basis for Weekly Insulin Therapy: Evolving Evidence With Insulin Icodec and Insulin Efsitora Alfa

Basal insulin continues to be a vital part of therapy for many people with diabetes. First attempts to prolong the duration of insulin formulations were through the development of suspensions that required homogenization prior to injection. These insulins, which required once- or twice-daily injections, introduced wide variations in insulin exposure contributing to unpredictable effects on glycemia. Advances over the last 2 decades have resulted in long-acting, soluble basal insulin analogues with prolonged and less variable pharmacokinetic exposure, improving their efficacy and safety, notably by reducing nocturnal hypoglycemia. However, adherence and persistence with once-daily basal insulin treatment remains low for many reasons including hypoglycemia concerns and treatment burden. A soluble basal insulin with a longer and flatter exposure profile could reduce pharmacodynamic variability, potentially reducing hypoglycemia, have similar efficacy to once-daily basal insulins, simplify dosing regimens, and improve treatment adherence. Insulin icodec (Novo Nordisk) and insulin efsitora alfa (basal insulin Fc [BIF], Eli Lilly and Company) are 2 such insulins designed for once-weekly administration, which have the potential to provide a further advance in basal insulin replacement. Icodec and efsitora phase 2 clinical trials, as well as data from the phase 3 icodec program indicate that once-weekly insulins provide comparable glycemic control to once-daily analogues, with a similar risk of hypoglycemia. This manuscript details the technology used in the development of once-weekly basal insulins. It highlights the clinical rationale and potential benefits of these weekly insulins while also discussing the limitations and challenges these molecules could pose in clinical practice.

[Evolution of insulin therapy: past, present, future]

2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, an event that forever changed the lives of people with diabetes mellitus. At present patients around the world experience the miracle of insulin therapy every day. A disease that used to kill children and teenagers in 2 years in 1920 has become a disease that can be controlled with a possibility to lead a long productive life. Over the past century, the great discovery of Banting, Best and Collip has forever changed the world and saved millions of lives. This review is devoted to the history of the development of insulin and its further improvement: from the moment of discovery to the present days. Various generations of insulin are considered: from animals to modern ultrashort and basal analogues. The article ends with a brief review of current trends in the development of new delivery methods and the development of new insulin molecules. Over the past century, insulin therapy has come a long way, which has significantly improved the quality of life of our patients. But research is actively continuing, including in the field of alternative methods of insulin delivery, which are more convenient for the patient, as well as in the development of «smart» molecules that will have a glucose-dependent effect.

A glorious past, dynamic present and a promising future: Insulin at 100

It has been 100 years since insulin was discovered. Insulin therapy remains the cornerstone for the management of diabetes. Advances in human physiology, pathology, molecular biology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering and devices have added tremendously to the journey of one of the greatest discoveries of modern medicine. Epidemiology of diabetes has gone through a major shift in a century; many oral drugs have been introduced for the management of type 2 diabetes; glucose monitoring has also gone through a sea change with the availability of novel parameters like continuous glucose monitoring, as has insulin delivery, with the availability of insulin pumps and the artificial pancreas. In this article, we look into historical facts, challenges, limitations and future developments of insulin therapy.

New Horizons: Next-Generation Insulin Analogues: Structural Principles and Clinical Goals

Design of "first-generation" insulin analogues over the past 3 decades has provided pharmaceutical formulations with tailored pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties. Application of a molecular tool kit-integrating protein sequence, chemical modification, and formulation-has thus led to improved prandial and basal formulations for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Although PK/PD changes were modest in relation to prior formulations of human and animal insulins, significant clinical advantages in efficacy (mean glycemia) and safety (rates of hypoglycemia) were obtained. Continuing innovation is providing further improvements to achieve ultrarapid and ultrabasal analogue formulations in an effort to reduce glycemic variability and optimize time in range. Beyond such PK/PD metrics, next-generation insulin analogues seek to exploit therapeutic mechanisms: glucose-responsive ("smart") analogues, pathway-specific ("biased") analogues, and organ-targeted analogues. Smart insulin analogues and delivery systems promise to mitigate hypoglycemic risk, a critical barrier to glycemic control, whereas biased and organ-targeted insulin analogues may better recapitulate physiologic hormonal regulation. In each therapeutic class considerations of cost and stability will affect use and global distribution. This review highlights structural principles underlying next-generation design efforts, their respective biological rationale, and potential clinical applications.

The ongoing evolution of basal insulin therapy over 100 years and its promise for the future

The evolution of basal insulin therapy over the past 100 years since the discovery of insulin is a testimony to the biomedical bench-to-bedside process, wherein incremental advances in the basic sciences are progressively translated over time into a series of enhancements in clinical care, each building upon the success of its predecessors. The emergence of recombinant DNA technology and the resultant biosynthesis of human insulin in the 1980s provided the critical capacity to bioengineer designer insulin analogues with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties that can better mimic, although not fully replicate, the effects of endogenous insulin secretion. Through these efforts, basal insulin therapy has progressed over this time from first-generation analogues (glargine U-100, detemir) to second-generation analogues (glargine U-300, degludec) to ultra-long-acting formulations that are suitable for administration once weekly (icodec). Each iteration in this progression has represented a step closer towards the goal of replicating the continuous secretion of insulin that normally comprises the basal output of the pancreatic beta-cells between meals, during episodes of fasting and overnight. However, it may be that we may have reached the achievable limit in the context of an "open-loop" approach, such that only with the addition of closed loop control will we be able to achieve physiologic basal insulin replacement. In this review, we will examine the evolution of basal insulin therapy over the past 100 years and its implications for patient care and outcomes in current practice and the future.

Efficacy and safety of 28-day treatment with oral insulin (ORMD-0801) in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

AIM

To assess the safety and efficacy of oral insulin (ORMD-0801) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After a 2-week washout of other medications, adult metformin-treated patients with T2D were randomized to receive placebo or 16 or 24 mg ORMD-0801, once daily, at bedtime, for 28 days. The mean change from baseline weighted mean night-time glucose levels was determined from 2 nights of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) recordings during the placebo run-in and last week of treatment.

RESULTS

In total, 188 patients (HbA1c: 7.82% ± 0.88% [placebo] and 8.08% ± 1.11% [pooled ORMD-0801 group]) were enrolled. In the placebo group, mean night-time CGM increased from baseline by 13.7 ± 26.1 mg/dL, whereas the increase was significantly smaller in the pooled ORMD-0801 group (1.7 ± 23.5 mg/dL, P = .0120). Glycaemic control variables (24-hour, fasting and daytime CGM glucose) also displayed smaller increases with ORMD-0801 versus placebo. Change from baseline HbA1c was -0.01% in the pooled ORMD-0801 group versus +0.20% in the placebo group (P = .0149). ORMD-0801 was well tolerated, with similar adverse event and hypoglycaemia rates as placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with T2D, bedtime ORMD-0801 curbed increases in night-time glycaemia, 24-hour glycaemia and HbA1c, without increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia or safety events compared with the control arm.

A Century of Progress in Diabetes Care with Insulin: A History of Innovations and Foundation for the Future

The year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, which has greatly changed the lives of people with diabetes and become a cornerstone of advances in medical science. A rapid bench-to-bedside application of the lifesaving pancreatic extract and its immediate commercialization was the result of a promising idea, positive drive, perseverance, and collaboration of Banting and colleagues. As one of the very few proteins isolated in a pure form at that time, insulin also played a key role in the development of important methodologies and in the beginning of various fields of modern science. Since its discovery, insulin has evolved continuously to optimize the care of people with diabetes. Since the 1980s, recombinant DNA technology has been employed to engineer insulin analogs by modifying their amino acid sequence, which has resulted in the production of insulins with various profiles that are currently used. However, unmet needs in insulin treatment still exist, and several forms of future insulins are under development. In this review, we discuss the past, present, and future of insulin, including a history of ceaseless innovations and collective intelligence. We believe that this story will be a solid foundation and an unerring guide for the future.

Affinity-Directed Dynamics of Host-Guest Motifs for Pharmacokinetic Modulation via Supramolecular PEGylation

Proteins are an impactful class of therapeutics but can exhibit suboptimal therapeutic performance, arising from poor control over the timescale of clearance. Covalent PEGylation is one established strategy to extend circulation time but often at the cost of reduced activity and increased immunogenicity. Supramolecular PEGylation may afford similar benefits without necessitating that the protein be permanently modified with a polymer. Here, we show that insulin pharmacokinetics can be modulated by tuning the affinity-directed dynamics of a host-guest motif used to non-covalently endow insulin with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain. When administered subcutaneously, supramolecular PEGylation with higher binding affinities extends the time of total insulin exposure systemically. Pharmacokinetic modeling reveals that the extension in the duration of exposure arises specifically from decreased absorption from the subcutaneous depot governed directly by the affinity and dynamics of host-guest exchange. The lifetime of the supramolecular interaction thus dictates the rate of absorption, with negligible impact attributed to association of the PEG upon rapid dilution of the supramolecular complex in circulation. This modular approach to supramolecular PEGylation offers a powerful tool to tune protein pharmacokinetics in response to the needs of different disease applications.

Commemorating insulin's centennial: engineering insulin pharmacology towards physiology

The life-saving discovery of insulin in Toronto in 1921 is one of the most impactful achievements in medical history, at the time being hailed as a miracle treatment for diabetes. The insulin molecule itself, however, is poorly amenable as a pharmacological intervention, and the formidable challenge of optimizing insulin therapy has been ongoing for a century. We review early academic insights into insulin structure and its relation to self-association and receptor binding, as well as recombinant biotechnology, which have all been seminal for drug design. Recent developments have focused on combining genetic and chemical engineering with pharmaceutical optimization to generate ultra-rapid and ultra-long-acting, tissue-selective, or orally delivered insulin analogs. We further discuss these developments and propose that future scientific efforts in molecular engineering include realizing the dream of glucose-responsive insulin delivery.

The future of insulin therapy

Although insulin therapy was already introduced one-hundred years ago, insulin formulations are still being refined to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia and of other insulin side effects such as weight gain. This review summarises the available clinical data for some ongoing developments of new insulins and evaluates their potential for future insulin therapy. Once-weekly insulins will most likely be the next addition to the insulin armamentarium. First clinical studies indicate low peak-to-trough fluctuations with these insulins indicating the potential to achieve better glycaemic control or reduce hypoglycaemic events versus available basal insulins. Proof-of-concept has also been established for hepato-preferential and oral insulins; however, adverse effects and low bioavailability still need to be overcome. It will take much longer, before glucose-responsive "smart" insulins will be available. A first clinical study and numerous pre-clinical data show the potential, but also the challenges of designing an insulin that quickly reacts to blood glucose changes and prevents hypoglycaemia and pronounced hyperglycaemia. Nevertheless, it is reassuring that the search for better insulins has never stopped since its first use one-hundred years ago and is still ongoing. New developments have a high potential of further improving the safety and efficacy of insulin therapy in the future.

Importance of the route of insulin delivery to its control of glucose metabolism

Pancreatic insulin secretion produces an insulin gradient at the liver compared with the rest of the body (approximately 3:1). This physiological distribution is lost when insulin is injected subcutaneously, causing impaired regulation of hepatic glucose production and whole body glucose uptake, as well as arterial hyperinsulinemia. Thus, the hepatoportal insulin gradient is essential to the normal control of glucose metabolism during both fasting and feeding. Insulin can regulate hepatic glucose production and uptake through multiple mechanisms, but its direct effects on the liver are dominant under physiological conditions. Given the complications associated with iatrogenic hyperinsulinemia in patients treated with insulin, insulin designed to preferentially target the liver may have therapeutic advantages.

Insulin Fused to Apolipoprotein A-I Reduces Body Weight and Steatosis in DB/DB Mice

Background: Targeting long-lasting insulins to the liver may improve metabolic alterations that are not corrected with current insulin replacement therapies. However, insulin is only able to promote lipogenesis but not to block gluconeogenesis in the insulin-resistant liver, exacerbating liver steatosis associated with diabetes.

Methods: In order to overcome this limitation, we fused a single-chain insulin to apolipoprotein A-I, and we evaluated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this novel fusion protein in wild type mice and in db/db mice using both recombinant proteins and recombinant adenoassociated virus (AAV).

Results: Here, we report that the fusion protein between single-chain insulin and apolipoprotein A-I prolonged the insulin half-life in circulation, and accumulated in the liver. We analyzed the long-term effect of these insulin fused to apolipoprotein A-I or insulin fused to albumin using AAVs in the db/db mouse model of diabetes, obesity, and liver steatosis. While AAV encoding insulin fused to albumin exacerbated liver steatosis in several mice, AAV encoding insulin fused to apolipoprotein A-I reduced liver steatosis. These results were confirmed upon daily subcutaneous administration of the recombinant insulin-apolipoprotein A-I fusion protein for six weeks. The reduced liver steatosis was associated with reduced body weight in mice treated with insulin fused to apolipoprotein A-I. Recombinant apolipoprotein A-I alone significantly reduces body weight and liver weight, indicating that the apolipoprotein A-I moiety is the main driver of these effects.

Conclusion: The fusion protein of insulin and apolipoprotein A-I could be a promising insulin derivative for the treatment of diabetic patients with associated fatty liver disease.

Engineering biopharmaceutical formulations to improve diabetes management

Insulin was first isolated almost a century ago, yet commercial formulations of insulin and its analogs for hormone replacement therapy still fall short of appropriately mimicking endogenous glycemic control. Moreover, the controlled delivery of complementary hormones (such as amylin or glucagon) is complicated by instability of the pharmacologic agents and complexity of maintaining multiple infusions. In this review, we highlight the advantages and limitations of recent advances in drug formulation that improve protein stability and pharmacokinetics, prolong drug delivery, or enable alternative dosage forms for the management of diabetes. With controlled delivery, these formulations could improve closed-loop glycemic control.

The Peripheral Peril: Injected Insulin Induces Insulin Insensitivity in Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin resistance is an underappreciated facet of type 1 diabetes that occurs with remarkable consistency and considerable magnitude. Although therapeutic innovations are continuing to normalize dysglycemia, a sizable body of data suggests a second metabolic abnormality-iatrogenic hyperinsulinemia-principally drives insulin resistance and its consequences in this population and has not been addressed. We review this evidence to show that injecting insulin into the peripheral circulation bypasses first-pass hepatic insulin clearance, which leads to the unintended metabolic consequence of whole-body insulin resistance. We propose restructuring insulin therapy to restore the physiological insulin balance between the hepatic portal and peripheral circulations and thereby avoid the complications of life-long insulin resistance. As technology rapidly advances and our ability to ensure euglycemia improves, iatrogenic insulin resistance will become the final barrier to overcome to restore normal physiology, health, and life in type 1 diabetes.

Molecular and Materials Engineering for Delivery of Peptide Drugs to Treat Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is exploding globally. Despite numerous treatment options, nearly half of type 2 diabetics are unsuccessful at properly managing the disease, primarily due to a lack of patient compliance, driven by adverse side effects as well as complicated and frequent dosing schedules. Improving the delivery of type 2 diabetes drugs has the potential to increase patient compliance and thus, greatly enhance health outcomes and quality of life. This review focuses on molecular and materials engineering strategies that have been implemented to improve the delivery of peptide drugs to treat type 2 diabetes. Peptide drugs benefit from high potency and specificity but suffer from instability and short half-lives that limit their utility as therapeutics and pose a significant delivery challenge. Several approaches have been developed to improve the availability and efficacy of antidiabetic peptides and proteins in vivo. These methods are reviewed herein and include devices, which sustain the release of peptides in long term, and molecular engineering strategies, which prolong circulation time and slow the release of therapeutic peptides. By optimizing the delivery of these peptides and proteins using these approaches, long-term glucose control can be achieved in type 2 diabetes patients.

Basal insulin peglispro increases lipid oxidation, metabolic flexibility, thermogenesis and ketone bodies compared to insulin glargine in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

When treated with basal insulin peglispro (BIL), patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) exhibit weight loss and lower prandial insulin requirements versus insulin glargine (GL), while total insulin requirements remain similar. One possible explanation is enhanced lipid oxidation and improved ability to switch between glucose and lipid metabolism with BIL. This study compared the effects of BIL and GL on glucose and lipid metabolism in subjects with T1DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen subjects with T1DM were enrolled into this open-label, randomised, crossover study, and received once-daily stable, individualised, subcutaneous doses of BIL and GL for 4 weeks each. Respiratory quotient (RQ) was measured using whole-room calorimetry, and energy expenditure (EE) and concentrations of ketone bodies (3-hydroxybutyrate) and acylcarnitines were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean sleep RQ was lower during the BIL (0.822) than the GL (0.846) treatment period, indicating greater lipid metabolism during the post-absorptive period with BIL. Increases in carbohydrate oxidation following breakfast were greater during BIL than GL treatment (mean change in RQ following breakfast 0.111 for BIL, 0.063 for GL). Furthermore, BIL treatment increased total daily EE versus GL (2215.9 kcal/d for BIL, 2135.5 kcal/d for GL). Concentrations of ketone bodies and acylcarnitines appeared to be higher following BIL than GL treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

BIL increased sleeping fat oxidation, EE, ketone bodies, acylcarnitines and post-prandial glucose metabolism when switching from conventional insulin, thus, restoring metabolic flexibility and increasing thermogenesis. These changes may explain the previously observed weight loss with BIL versus GL.

Attenuated suppression of lipolysis explains the increases in triglyceride secretion and concentration associated with basal insulin peglispro relative to insulin glargine treatment in patients with type 1 diabetes

AIMS

To test the hypothesis that, as well as lowering weight and increasing plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and hepatic fat compared with insulin glargine (GL) in patients with type 1 diabetes, the attenuated peripheral effects of basal insulin peglispro (BIL) may include increased free fatty acid flux to the liver, causing increased very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG secretion and lipid oxidation, and decreased TG adipose tissue deposition.

METHODS

In this open-label, randomized, 2-period crossover study, 14 patients with type 1 diabetes received once-daily, individualized, stable BIL or GL doses for 3 weeks. Palmitate flux was assessed using [9,10-³ H]palmitate infusion. VLDL-TG secretion, clearance and oxidation rate were assessed using primed-constant infusion of ex vivo labelled [1-¹⁴ C]VLDL-TG, while VLDL-TG storage rate was assessed using [9,10-³ H]VLDL-TG bolus injection.

RESULTS

The VLDL-TG concentration and secretion rate, and palmitate flux were statistically significantly higher during BIL than during GL treatment (58%, 51% and 35%, respectively). The ratios of least squares (LS) geometric means for VLDL-TG clearance and oxidation were 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72, 1.17) and 1.31 (95% CI 0.91, 1.90), respectively. The difference in LS means for VLDL-TG storage rate was -0.36 (95% CI -0.83, 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

BIL-treated patients had higher effective lipolysis, VLDL-TG secretion and VLDL-TG concentration compared with GL-treated patients, explaining the increased plasma TG concentrations reported previously. Data support attenuated effects of BIL on lipolysis, in addition to the recently described hepato-preferential glucodynamic effects.

Effects of hepato-preferential basal insulin peglispro on nuclear magnetic resonance biomarkers lipoprotein insulin resistance index and GlycA in patients with diabetes

AIM

To characterize the effects of hepato-preferential basal insulin peglispro (BIL) and insulin glargine on insulin resistance (lipoprotein insulin resistance index [LP-IR]) and inflammation (GlycA), and to explore the biological implications.

METHODS

This substudy included 847 patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in four cohorts of the BIL development program. LP-IR and GlycA were measured before and after insulin treatment. Correlations between LP-IR, GlycA, clinical parameters and liver biomarkers were assessed.

RESULTS

LP-IR and GlycA were higher in T2D than T1D. LP-IR increased in patients switched from basal insulins to BIL but not in insulin-naive patients. GlycA decreased in T2D patients treated with BIL and T1D patients treated with glargine.

CONCLUSION

These exploratory analyses help to characterize differences in biological effects between BIL and glargine treatment.

Open-label, randomized study comparing basal insulin peglispro and insulin glargine, in combination with oral antihyperglycemic medications, in insulin-naïve Asian patients with type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

The present phase 3, randomized, open-label study compared the efficacy and safety of basal insulin peglispro with insulin glargine after 26 weeks of treatment when added to oral antihyperglycemic medications in insulin-naïve Asian patients with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The primary objective was to show non-inferiority of the change in glycated hemoglobin from baseline to 26 weeks.

RESULTS

At 26 weeks, insulin peglispro was non-inferior to glargine, meeting the primary objective. Patients receiving insulin peglispro (n = 192) showed a greater reduction in glycated hemoglobin from baseline compared with glargine (n = 196); -1.6 vs -1.4%, P = 0.005) and in fasting serum glucose (-61.2 vs -54.8 mg/dL, P = 0.02). A significantly higher proportion of patients receiving insulin peglispro achieved glycated hemoglobin <7% (57 vs 44%, P = 0.012). Insulin peglispro patients showed significantly less weight gain from baseline (1.1 vs 1.6 kg, P = 0.03). Relative rates (insulin peglispro/glargine) of total and nocturnal hypoglycemia through 26 weeks were 1.06 (P = 0.67) and 0.7 (P = 0.10), respectively. Significantly more insulin peglispro-treated patients experienced adverse events compared with glargine-treated patients (P = 0.042). Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly increased from baseline with insulin peglispro compared with glargine at week 26 (3.5 vs -4.6 IU/L and 2.8 vs -1.5 IU/L, respectively; P < 0.001). The incidence of injection site reactions was low and did not differ between the treatments.

DISCUSSION

Insulin peglispro provided better glycemic control vs glargine with no differences in hypoglycemia and increased aminotransferases in insulin-naïve Asian patients with type 2 diabetes.

Dose Unit Establishment for a New Basal Insulin Using Joint Modeling of Insulin Dose and Glycemic Response

BACKGROUND

For new insulin analogs with properties that vary from human insulin, defining activity in units of human insulin based on glycemic lowering efficacy may be challenging. Here we present a new method that can be used to quantify a unit dose of an experimental insulin when the traditional euglycemic clamp method is not adequate.

METHODS

Joint modeling of insulin dose and the glycemic outcome variable hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), where both were response variables, was used to evaluate insulin unit potency for basal insulin peglispro (BIL). The data were from the Phase 3 program for BIL, which included greater than 5500 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who were treated for 26 or 52 weeks with BIL or a comparator insulin. Both basal-bolus and basal insulin only studies were included, and some type 2 diabetes patients were insulin-naïve.

RESULTS

The analysis showed that 1 unit of BIL, composed of 9 nmol of active ingredient, had similar or slightly greater potency compared to 1 unit insulin glargine or NPH insulin for all populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite some limitations, the joint modeling of HbA1c and insulin dose provides a reasonable approach to estimate the relative potency of a new basal insulin versus an established basal insulin.

Cytokeratin-18 and enhanced liver fibrosis scores in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and effects of two different insulins

Data on cytokeratin-18 (K-18) and enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score in insulin-treated diabetes patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited. This study analyzed phase III data comparing basal insulin peglispro (BIL) and insulin glargine in type 1 (T1D), and type 2 diabetes (T2D) (insulin-naïve and insulin-treated). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), K-18, ELF scores and liver fat content (LFC), measured by MRI, were obtained longitudinally. Baseline K-18 (U/L) was higher in T2D (range: 207‒247) than T1D (range: 148‒183), correlated with ALT in all populations (r (range) 0.264‒0.637, p<0.05), but with LFC only in T2D (r (range) 0.474‒0.586, p<0.05). K-18 increased significantly from baseline in BIL-treated, but not glargine-treated patients. Change from baseline (CFB) K-18 was significantly correlated with CFB in ALT in BIL-treated T2D populations. Baseline ELF scores were higher in T2D (range: 9.12‒9.20) than T1D (range: 8.24‒8.36), correlated with ALT in T1D only (0.209, p<0.05), and not correlated with LFC in any population. ELF scores increased significantly from baseline in BIL-treated but not glargine-treated patients. There were no correlations between CFB in LFC and ELF score at week 52 in any treatment group/population. In all BIL-treated populations, CFB in ALT and CFB in ELF score at week 52 were positively correlated. These data characterize associations of K-18 and ELF score with ALT and LFC in insulin-treated patients with T1D and T2D. Hepatopreferential insulins may be associated with increased K-18 and ELF scores but mechanisms and clinical significance are unknown. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers are NCT01481779, NCT01435616, NCT01454284 and NCT01582451.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence and its metabolic associations in patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes

We investigated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence and its metabolic associations in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and in insulin-naïve and insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Baseline data from patients who had liver fat content (LFC) evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging in four phase 3 studies of basal insulin peglispro (BIL) were analysed. Associations of NAFLD with clinical characteristics, glycaemic control and diabetes therapy were evaluated. The prevalence of NAFLD (defined as LFC ≥ 6%) was low in T1D (8.8%) but high in T2D, with greater prevalence in insulin-naïve (75.6%) vs insulin-treated (61.7%) T2D patients. LFC (mean ± SD) was higher in T2D patients (insulin-naïve, 13.0% ± 8.4%; insulin-treated, 10.2% ± 7.8%) than in T1D patients (3.2% ± 3.2%). In T2D, NAFLD was associated with several markers of insulin resistance. In all three populations, there was an absence of association of HbA1c with LFC, but insulin doses were higher in patients with NAFLD.

Hypoglycemia Risk Related to Double Dose Is Markedly Reduced with Basal Insulin Peglispro Versus Insulin Glargine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Randomized Trial: IMAGINE 8

BACKGROUND

Basal insulin peglispro (BIL) has a peripheral-to-hepatic distribution of action that resembles endogenous insulin and a prolonged duration of action with a flat pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile at steady state, characteristics that tend to reduce hypoglycemia risk compared to insulin glargine (GL). The primary objective was to demonstrate that clinically significant hypoglycemia (blood glucose ≤54 mg/dL [3.0 mmol/L] or symptoms of severe hypoglycemia) occurred less frequently within 84 h after a double dose (DD) of BIL than a DD of GL.

METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, two-period crossover study in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) previously treated with insulin (N = 68). For the first 3 weeks of each of the two crossover periods, patients received an individualized dose of BIL or GL once nightly (stable dose for 2 weeks/period). Then, during a 7-day inpatient stay with frequent blood glucose monitoring and standardized meals, one DD of study insulin was given. Glucose was infused if blood glucose was ≤54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) or for symptoms of severe hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

Within 84 h after the DD, a significantly smaller proportion of patients experienced clinically significant hypoglycemia with BIL compared to GL (BIL, 6.6%; GL, 35.5%; odds ratio for BIL/GL 0.13 [95% confidence interval 0.04-0.39]; P < 0.001). Adverse event profiles were similar for the two insulins. Serum alanine aminotransferase and triglyceride levels were significantly higher with BIL versus GL.

CONCLUSIONS

BIL has a markedly lower risk of hypoglycemia than GL when replicating a double-dose error in patients with T2D.

The effects of basal insulin peglispro vs. insulin glargine on lipoprotein particles by NMR and liver fat content by MRI in patients with diabetes

Background

In Phase 2/3 studies of basal insulin peglispro (BIL) compared to insulin glargine, patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes previously treated with insulin and randomized to BIL had an increase in serum triglycerides (TGs). To further understand lipoprotein changes, a lipid substudy which included liver fat content was designed to assess relationships among the measured variables for each diabetes cohort and compare the hepato-preferential insulin BIL to glargine.

Methods

In three cohorts of patients with diabetes (type 1, type 2 insulin naïve, and type 2 previously on insulin; n = 652), liver fat content (LFC) was determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood lipids were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy at baseline, 26 and 52 weeks of treatment. Apolipoproteins, adiponectin, and other lipid parameters were also measured. Descriptive statistics were done, as well as correlation analyses to look for relationships among LFC and lipoproteins or other lipid measures.

Results

In patients with type 1 diabetes treated with BIL, but not glargine, small LDL and medium and large VLDL subclass concentrations increased from baseline. In patients with type 2 diabetes previously on insulin and treated with BIL, large VLDL concentration increased from baseline. In insulin naïve patients with type 2 diabetes treated with BIL, there were very few changes, while in those treated with glargine, small LDL and large VLDL decreased from baseline. Baseline LFC correlated significantly in one or more cohorts with baseline large VLDL, small LDL, VLDL size, and Apo C3. Changes in LFC by treatment showed generally weak correlations with lipoprotein changes, except for positive correlations with large VLDL and VLDL size. Adiponectin was higher in patients with type 1 diabetes compared to patients with type 2 diabetes, but decreased with treatment with both BIL and glargine.

Conclusions

The lipoprotein changes were in line with the observed changes in serum TGs; i.e., the cohorts experiencing increased TGs and LFC with BIL treatment had decreased LDL size and increased VLDL size. These data and analyses add to the currently available information on the metabolic effects of insulins in a very carefully characterized cohort of patients with diabetes.

Clinicaltrials.gov registration numbers and dates NCT01481779 (2011), NCT01435616 (2011), NCT01454284 (2011), NCT01582451 (2012)

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-017-0555-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Quantification of Basal Insulin Peglispro and Human Insulin in Adipose Tissue Interstitial Fluid by Open-Flow Microperfusion

BACKGROUND

Restoration of the physiologic hepatic-to-peripheral insulin gradient may be achieved by either portal vein administration or altering insulin structure to increase hepatic specificity or restrict peripheral access. Basal insulin peglispro (BIL) is a novel, PEGylated basal insulin with a flat pharmacokinetic and glucodynamic profile and altered hepatic-to-peripheral action gradient. We hypothesized reduced BIL exposure in peripheral tissues explains the latter, and in this study assessed the adipose tissue interstitial fluid (ISF) concentrations of BIL compared with human insulin (HI).

METHODS

A euglycemic glucose clamp was performed in patients with type 1 diabetes during continuous intravenous (IV) infusion of BIL or HI, while the adipose ISF insulin concentrations were determined using open-flow microperfusion (OFM). The ratio of adipose ISF-to-serum concentrations and the absolute steady-state adipose ISF concentrations were assessed using a dynamic no-net-flux technique with subsequent regression analysis.

RESULTS

Steady-state BIL concentrations in adipose tissue ISF were achieved by ∼16 h after IV infusion. Median time to reach steady-state glucose infusion rate across doses ranged between 8 and 22 h. The average serum concentrations (coefficient of variation %) of BIL and HI were 11,200 pmol/L (23%) and 425 pmol/L (15%), respectively. The ISF-to-serum concentration ratios were 10.2% for BIL and 22.9% for HI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates feasibility of OFM to measure BIL in ISF. The observed low ISF-to-serum concentration ratio of BIL is consistent with its previously demonstrated reduced peripheral action.

Novel hepato-preferential basal insulin peglispro (BIL) does not differentially affect insulin sensitivity compared with insulin glargine in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

AIMS

Basal insulin peglispro (BIL) is a novel PEGylated basal insulin with a flat pharmacokinetic and glucodynamic profile and reduced peripheral effects, which results in a hepato-preferential action. In Phase 3 trials, patients with T1DM treated with BIL had lower prandial insulin requirements, yet improved prandial glucose control, relative to insulin glargine (GL). We hypothesized that this may be because of an enhanced sensitivity to prandial insulin with BIL resulting from lower chronic peripheral insulin action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two open-label, randomized, 2-period crossover clinical studies were conducted in 28 patients with T1DM and 24 patients with T2DM. In each study period, patients received once-daily, individualized, stable, subcutaneous doses of BIL or GL for 5 weeks before a euglycaemic 2-step hyperinsulinemic clamp procedure (with [6,6- ² H₂ ]-glucose in 12 of the patients with T1DM). M-values were derived from the clamp procedure for all patients, with rate of glucose appearance (Ra) and disappearance (Rd) and insulin sensitivity index (SI) determined from the clamps with [6,6- ² H₂ ]-glucose.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between BIL and GL in key measures of hepatic (% Ra suppression during the low-dose insulin infusion; 78.7% with BIL, 81.8% with GL) or peripheral (M-value and M/I during the high-dose insulin infusion, Rd and SI) insulin sensitivity in patients with T1DM or T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

The need to reduce prandial insulin observed with BIL during phase 3 trials cannot be explained by the differential effects of BIL and GL on sensitivity to prandial insulin in either T1DM or T2DM.