Diabetes – insulin degludec
Long-acting insulin formulations typically have a duration of action of 18–26 hours, leading to a risk of hypoglycaemia developing overnight
Long-acting insulin formulations are available, notably insulin glargine and insulin detemir. However, their duration of action is typically 18–26 hours, and there is a real risk of hypoglycaemia developing overnight.
Novo Nordisk is developing an ultra long-acting insulin, insulin degludec, based on human insulin, with one amino acid being deleted, and this is conjugated via a γ-L-glutamyl spacer to hexadecanedioic acid. It forms multi-hexamers when administered by subcutaneous injection, and the resulting depot gives a slow release of insulin, with a duration of action up to 40 hours.
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