Fast-acting insulin aspart in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes: Faster onset, higher early exposure and greater early glucose-lowering effect relative to insulin aspart

Comparative assessment of modern parameters of glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes after switching to fast-acting insulin aspart using Flash Glucose Monitoring in real clinical practice

BACKGROUND: Postprandial hyperglycaemia contributes significantly to the lack of glycaemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). At least a quarter of patients forget to inject insulin before meals once a week, and more than 40% of them inject bolus insulin immediately before meals, which does not correspond to the pharmacokinetic effects of ultrashort insulins and determines the need to use insulins with better imitations of physiological insulin secretion.

AIM: To assess the effect of fast acting insulin aspart (FIAsp) on the current parameters of glycaemic control in children with DM1 after switching from insulin Asp (iAsp) using continuous glucose monitoring.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter observational 12-week prospective open-label uncontrolled comparative study was initiated. A group of insufficiently controlled patients were identified (n = 48) including a group on multiple insulin injections therapy (MII) (insulin degludec and IAsp) and a group on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) of iAsp. Three 14-day flash glucose monitoring (FMG) were performed: before transferring patients to FiAsp and after 2 and 12 weeks of the transfer. Key endpoints: HbA1c after 2 and 12 weeks on FiAsp relative to baseline, analysis of 5 FMG target glucose ranges, presented as an ambulatory glycemic profile. Additional indicators: dynamics of insulin daily dose, frequency of glucose self- monitoring, the number of severe hypoglycemia, adverse events that occurred during treatment.

RESULTS: 2 weeks after the transfer from IAsp to FIAsp, TIR increased in the entire group of patients: from 53% [44.3; 66.5] to 57% [47.4; 71.0] (p-value = 0.010) and TAR decreased from 38% [24.8; 50.2] to 30.5% [22.0; 45, 0] (p-value = 0.0124). Maintaining and increase time spent in the target glucose ranges during a 12-week observation period, in parallel with a significant decrease in hypoglycemic episodes <3.9 mmol / L per week, on FIAsp therapy naturally leads to an improvement in diabetes control: a decrease in HbA1c from 8.15% up to 7.75% (p-value = 0.0224), more pronounced in the group of patients on CSII — from 7.9% to 7.5% (p-value = 0.028).

CONCLUSION: Switching from IAsp to BDIAsp in routine clinical practice in the MII and CSII regimen in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes allows achieving better glycemic control compared to the previous generation prandial insulin analog Iasp. The better diabetes control is associated with an increase or a trend towards an increase in TIR and a decrease or a trend towards a decrease in TAR and TBR, as well as a significant decrease in episodes of hypoglycemia.

Novel approaches to pharmacological management of type 2 diabetes in Japan

INTRODUCTION

Newly developed anti-diabetic medications have had multiple activities, beyond a blood glucose-lowering effect. Current drugs for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are based on the use of gastrointestinal hormones. Representative incretin preparations, such as those with glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 or gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) activity, aim to provide new means of controlling blood glucose levels, body weight, and lipid metabolism.

AREA COVERED

In this manuscript, the pathophysiology of T2DM and the activities and characteristics of novel diabetic drugs are reviewed in the context of the Japanese population. This review also highlights the need for novel medicines to overcome the accompanying challenges. Finally, the author provides the reader with their expert perspectives.

EXPERT OPINION

The incidence of T2DM has been increasing in the aging of Japanese society. In older people, medical development should focus on safety, easier self-administration, and the relief of caregiver burden in terms of continuous administration. In the young, the focus should be on effectiveness, with a particular emphasis on the protection of organs, increasing the ease of adherence, and safety. Novel medicines will need to push the envelope in these areas.

Fast-Acting Insulin Aspart: A Review of its Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Properties and the Clinical Consequences

Fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) is insulin aspart (IAsp) with two added excipients, l-arginine and niacinamide, to ensure formulation stability with accelerated initial absorption after subcutaneous administration compared with previously developed rapid-acting insulins. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of faster aspart have been characterised in clinical pharmacology trials with comparable overall methodology. In subjects with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes, the serum IAsp concentration–time and glucose-lowering effect profiles are left-shifted for faster aspart compared with IAsp. In addition, faster aspart provides earlier onset, doubling of initial exposure, and an up to 2.5-fold increase in initial glucose-lowering effect within 30 min of subcutaneous injection, as well as earlier offset of exposure and effect. Similar results have been shown using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). The improved pharmacological properties of faster aspart versus IAsp are consistent across populations, i.e. in the elderly, children, adolescents and the Japanese. Thus, the faster aspart pharmacological characteristics more closely resemble the mealtime insulin secretion in healthy individuals, giving faster aspart the potential to further improve postprandial glucose control in subjects with diabetes. Indeed, change from baseline in 1-h postprandial glucose increment is in favour of faster aspart versus IAsp when used as basal-bolus or CSII treatment in phase III trials in subjects with T1D or T2D. This review summarises the currently published results from clinical pharmacology trials with faster aspart and discusses the potential clinical benefits of faster aspart compared with previous rapid-acting insulin products.

Efficacy and safety of fast-acting insulin aspart compared with insulin aspart in combination with insulin degludec in Japanese adults with type 1 diabetes: a subgroup analysis of the randomized onset 8 trial

This study aimed to confirm the efficacy and safety of mealtime and post-meal fast-acting insulin aspart versus insulin aspart, both with basal insulin degludec, in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes. This was a subgroup analysis of onset 8, a randomized multicenter, treat-to-target trial of mealtime fast-acting insulin aspart (subgroup n = 73), mealtime insulin aspart (n = 83), or open-label post-meal fast-acting insulin aspart (n = 89), all for 26 weeks. Change from baseline in HbA_1c was considered the primary endpoint. After 26 weeks, the estimated treatment difference (ETD, 95% CI) for change from baseline in HbA_1c between mealtime fast-acting insulin aspart or post-meal fast-acting insulin aspart vs. insulin aspart was 0.01% (-0.16;0.19) and 0.10% (-0.07;0.27), respectively. Following a standardized meal test, ETD for change from baseline in postprandial glucose (PPG) increment at 1 hour was -16.91 mg/dL (-32.15;-1.68) for mealtime fast-acting insulin aspart and 40.16 mg/dL (25.46;54.87) for post-meal fast-acting insulin aspart, both versus insulin aspart. Mean self-measured blood glucose 1-hour PPG increments also showed a trend towards improved PPG control with mealtime fast-acting insulin aspart versus insulin aspart. Rates of overall hypoglycemia (35.56, 37.72 and 38.75 per patient-year of exposure with mealtime fast-acting insulin aspart, post-meal fast-acting insulin aspart and insulin aspart, respectively) and meal-related hypoglycemia were similar between treatment arms. Consistent with findings of onset 8, this analysis confirmed mealtime and post-meal fast-acting insulin aspart provided effective HbA_1c and PPG control versus insulin aspart, with similar safety profiles, in Japanese adults with type 1 diabetes.

Efficacy and safety of fast-acting insulin aspart versus insulin aspart in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes from Japan

The aim of this post-hoc subgroup analysis, which was based on data from the treat-to-target, 26-week, onset 7 trial, was to confirm the efficacy and safety of fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) versus insulin aspart (IAsp), both in combination with basal insulin degludec, in children and adolescents from Japan with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Of the onset 7 trial population (1 to <18 years; N = 777), 66 participants from Japan (65 Asian and one non-Asian) were randomized to mealtime faster aspart (n = 24), post-meal faster aspart (n = 19), or IAsp (n = 23). Data for the subgroup from Japan were analysed descriptively. Change from baseline in hemoglobin A1c 26 weeks after randomization was 0.23%, 0.74%, and 0.39%, for mealtime faster aspart, post-meal faster aspart, and IAsp respectively. Change from baseline in 1-h post-prandial glucose increment (based on 8-point self-measured blood glucose profiles) showed numerical differences in favor of mealtime faster aspart versus IAsp at breakfast (-30.70 vs. -2.88 mg/dL) and over all meals (-18.21 vs. -5.55 mg/dL). There were no clinically relevant numerical differences between treatment arms in the overall rate of severe or blood glucose-confirmed hypoglycemia. At week 26, mean total insulin dose was 1.119 U/kg/day for mealtime faster aspart, 1.049 U/kg/day for post-meal faster aspart, and 1.037 U/kg/day for IAsp. In conclusion, in children and adolescents with T1D from Japan, mealtime and post-meal faster aspart with insulin degludec was efficacious in controlling glycemia without additional safety concerns versus IAsp.

Ultrafast acting insulin analog - a new way to prevent postprandial hyperglycemia and improve quality of life in type 1 diabetes patients - case reports

The aim of modern insulin therapy used in the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus is to mimic the physiological secretion of insulin in order to ensure stable normoglycemia while maintaining the greatest possible comfort of life for diabetic patients. New ultra-fast insulin analogs that can be administered immediately before a meal contribute to the improvement of postprandial glycemia and the quality of life of patients. We presented two cases illustrating the effectiveness and safety of the use of an ultra-fast-acting insulin analog in the treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia in children with type 1 diabetes.

Clinical Pharmacology of Fast-Acting Insulin Aspart Versus Insulin Aspart Measured as Free or Total Insulin Aspart and the Relation to Anti-Insulin Aspart Antibody Levels in Subjects with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background

Fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) is an ultra-fast-acting formulation of insulin aspart (IAsp). This post hoc analysis investigated the pharmacokinetics of faster aspart versus IAsp, measured as free or total IAsp, and the relationship between anti-IAsp antibodies and the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of faster aspart and IAsp.

Methods

Free and total IAsp concentrations and anti-IAsp antibodies were determined in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus receiving subcutaneous faster aspart and/or IAsp in four single-dose clinical pharmacology trials (n = 175) and a 26-week phase IIIa trial (n = 1040). Pharmacodynamics were assessed by euglycaemic clamp or meal test, respectively.

Results

The pharmacokinetic profile was left-shifted and early exposure was greater with faster aspart versus IAsp independent of free or total IAsp assay. The faster aspart-IAsp difference in the time to 50% of maximum IAsp concentration in the early part of the pharmacokinetic profile (t_{Early 50 % Cmax}) [95% confidence interval (CI)] was − 8.8 [− 10.0 to − 7.5] and − 7.6 [− 8.8 to − 6.4] min for free and total IAsp, respectively. The faster aspart/IAsp ratio for the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) for IAsp from time zero to 30 min (AUC_{IAsp,0–30 min}) [95% CI] was 1.88 [1.74–2.04] and 1.77 [1.64–1.90] for free and total IAsp. Higher anti-IAsp antibody levels were associated with a lower ratio of free/total IAsp for the total AUC for IAsp (AUC_IAsp,0–t). Early glucose-lowering effect (AUC for the glucose infusion rate [GIR] from time zero to 60 min [AUC_{GIR,0–60 min}]) was greater by 25–44% for faster aspart versus IAsp independent of anti-IAsp antibody levels. Total glucose-lowering effect (total AUC for GIR [AUC_GIR,0–t]) in a clamp and 1-h postprandial glucose increment in a meal test appeared essentially unaffected by anti-IAsp antibodies.

Conclusions

Faster aspart provides accelerated pharmacokinetics versus IAsp regardless if based on free or total IAsp assay. Higher anti-IAsp antibodies increase total IAsp concentrations but do not influence faster aspart nor IAsp pharmacodynamics.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers

NCT01618188, NCT02003677, NCT01934712, NCT02568280, NCT01831765.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40262-018-0718-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ultra-Rapid Lispro results in accelerated insulin lispro absorption and faster early insulin action in comparison with Humalog® in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Ultra-rapid lispro (URLi) is a novel ultra-rapid mealtime insulin. This study compared the pharmacokinetic and glucodynamic profiles, safety, and tolerability of URLi and lispro (Humalog® ) in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a phase I, single center, randomized, patient- and investigator-blind, two-period, cross-over study. A total of 31 patients received a single subcutaneous 15-U dose of URLi or lispro before undergoing a euglycemic clamp procedure. Primary pharmacokinetic endpoints were the time to early half-maximal drug concentration and the area under the concentration versus time curve from 0 to 30 min postdose. The glucodynamic endpoints were the time to early half-maximal glucose infusion rate before time to maximum glucose infusion rate, and the time to onset of insulin action.

RESULTS

URLi showed accelerated insulin lispro absorption compared with lispro, as shown by a decrease of 56% (URLi: 10.2 min, lispro: 23.3 min; P < 0.0001) in the early half-maximal drug concentration, and a 2.4-fold increase in the area under the concentration versus time curve from 0 to 30 min (P < 0.0001). The duration of insulin lispro exposure was 88 min shorter after URLi administration compared with lispro. URLi reduced the early half-maximal glucose infusion rate before time to maximum glucose infusion rate and the time to onset of insulin action significantly compared with lispro. The glucose infused within the first 30 min of the clamp was 2.16-fold greater with URLi compared with lispro. There was no difference in total exposure or glucose infused between treatments. All treatment-emergent adverse events were mild/moderate in severity.

CONCLUSIONS

In Japanese type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, URLi showed accelerated insulin lispro absorption, reduced late exposure, overall shorter duration and faster early insulin action compared with lispro.

The continuing quest for better subcutaneously administered prandial insulins: a review of recent developments and potential clinical implications

The class of rapid-acting insulin analogues were introduced more than 20 years ago to control postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) excursions better than unmodified regular human insulin. Insulins, lispro, aspart and glulisine all achieved an earlier onset of action, greater peak effect and shorter duration of action resulting in lower PPG levels and a reduced risk of late postprandial hypoglycaemia. However, the subcutaneous absorption rate of these analogues still fails to match the physiological profile of insulin in the systemic circulation following a meal. Recent reformulations of aspart and lispro have generated a second generation of more rapid-acting insulin analogue candidates, including fast-acting aspart (faster aspart), ultra-rapid lispro and BioChaperone Lispro. These modifications have the potential to mimic physiological prandial insulin secretion better with an even earlier onset of action with improved PPG control, shorter duration of effect and reduced risk of hypoglycaemia. Recent phase 3 trials in type 1 and type 2 diabetes show that faster aspart and ultra-rapid lispro compared with conventional aspart and lispro, achieved fewer PPG excursions with a small increase in post-meal hypoglycaemia but similar or marginally superior glycated haemoglobin levels, and suggest the need for parallel optimization of basal insulin replacement. Phase 1 trials for BioChaperone Lispro are equally encouraging with phase 3 trials yet to be initiated. Comparative analysis of the clinical and pharmacological evidence for these new prandial insulin candidates in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is the main focus of this review.

Fast-Acting Insulin Aspart: The Rationale for a New Mealtime Insulin

Attenuating postprandial hyperglycaemia is a critical factor in the achievement of optimal glucose control. Prandial insulin analogues have been developed to replicate the physiology of normal endogenous insulin secretion and action, with the aim of limiting postprandial glucose excursions. There is still, however, a significant unmet need, with many people failing to achieve desired glycaemic control targets despite the current armamentarium of prandial insulin analogues. Such insulins have a delayed onset and a longer duration of action than endogenous insulin production. There has been considerable focus on attempts to accelerate the time-action profile of prandial exogenous insulin in order to produce a more physiological profile. One such approach is to modify the insulin formulation. Fast-acting insulin aspart is a modified formulation of insulin aspart containing niacinamide and L-arginine. It has an earlier onset of action than aspart. In an extensive trial programme, this faster aspart demonstrated similar HbA1c reductions to those achieved with aspart but superior postprandial glucose reductions, with no increase in hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, administration of faster aspart up to 20 min after the start of a meal permitted similar glucose control to aspart given preprandially. These data, taken in totality, illustrate the potential role of faster insulin aspart in clinical practice.

Use of fast-acting insulin aspart in insulin pump therapy in clinical practice

Fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) is a novel formulation of insulin aspart (IAsp) containing the additional excipients niacinamide and L-arginine. The improved pharmacological profile and greater early glucose-lowering action of faster aspart compared with IAsp suggests that faster aspart may be advantageous for people with diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). The recent onset 5 trial was the first to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an ultra-fast-acting insulin in CSII therapy in a large number of participants with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Non-inferiority of faster aspart to IAsp in terms of change from baseline in HbA1c was confirmed, with an estimated treatment difference (ETD) of 0.09% (95% CI, 0.01; 0.17; P < 0.001 for non-inferiority [0.4% margin]). Faster aspart was superior to IAsp in terms of change from baseline in 1-hour post-prandial glucose (PPG) increment after a meal test (ETD [95% CI], -0.91 mmol/L [-1.43; -0.39]; P = 0.001), with statistically significant improvements also at 30 minutes and 2 hours. The overall rate of severe or blood glucose-confirmed hypoglycaemia was not statistically significantly different between treatments, with an estimated rate ratio of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.85; 1.16). A numerical imbalance in severe hypoglycaemic episodes between faster aspart and IAsp was seen in the treatment (21 vs 7) and the 4-week run-in periods (4 vs 0). Experience from clinical practice indicates that all pump settings should be reviewed when initiating faster aspart with CSII, and that the use of continuous glucose monitoring or flash glucose monitoring, along with a good understanding of meal content and bolus type, may also facilitate optimal use. This review summarizes the available clinical evidence for faster aspart administered via CSII and highlights practical considerations based on clinical experience that may help healthcare providers and individuals with T1D successfully initiate and adjust faster aspart with CSII.