Type 1 diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects how your body uses glucose (sugar) for energy. Normally, the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin that helps glucose enter your body's cells. But in type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, so your body can't produce enough insulin on its own.
This means that people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections or use an insulin pump to manage their blood sugar levels. Without enough insulin, the body's cells don't get the energy they need, and excess glucose can build up in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body responds to insulin. It can be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, and oral medications. In patients who do not respond to oral medications and lifestyle changes, insulin is an important treatment for managing diabetes. However, patients may find it can be difficult to start and optimize insulin dose, leading to poor blood sugar control.
Injectable insulin is usually given once or twice a day. Once-weekly insulin therapy, if found safe and effective, will reduce the number of injections and treatment burden. Insulin Icodec is a new type of insulin that can be injected once a week and has been designed to slowly release insulin into the bloodstream, providing a consistent glucose-lowering effect throughout the week.
In phase 2
clinical trials, once-weekly icodec was well-tolerated and effective, with similar glucose-lowering effects as once-daily insulin glargine. These patients also experienced lower rates of hypoglycemia. Based on these findings, a phase 3 clinical trial program called ONWARDS was designed to further investigate the efficacy and long-term safety of once-weekly Icodec.
The ONWARDS program was a clinical research initiative that aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-weekly insulin Icodec for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The program consisted of six different clinical trials that were conducted globally and involved more than 4,000 participants.
In ONWARDS 1 trial, the effectiveness and safety of once-weekly insulin icodec were compared to once-daily insulin glargine with oral medications or basal insulin in 984 type 2 diabetic patients. In ONWARDS 2 trial, insulin icodec was compared to once-daily insulin degludec with or without oral medications in 526 people with type 2 diabetes. In ONWARDS 3 trial, insulin icodec was compared to once-daily insulin degludec with oral medications in 588 people with type 2 diabetes.
In ONWARDS 4 trial, insulin icodec was compared to insulin glargine with or without oral medications in 582 type 2 diabetic patients. In ONWARDS 5 trial, insulin icodec was compared to once-daily basal insulin in 1085 type 2 diabetic patients. In ONWARDS 6 trial, insulin icodec was compared to once-daily insulin degludec and mealtime insulin in 583 people with type 1 diabetes.
The trials showed that once-weekly insulin icodec achieved a superior reduction in HbA1c levels in these groups of patients. Rates of hypoglycemic episodes were similar among patients receiving once-weekly insulin icodec and once-daily basal insulins. Once-weekly insulin icodec was well-tolerated and appeared to have a safe profile.
In conclusion, the clinical trials demonstrated that once-weekly insulin icodec is a promising treatment option for people with diabetes. Thus, once-weekly insulin icodec may offer a convenient and effective alternative to daily insulin injections for people with diabetes, potentially improving their overall health outcomes and quality of life. Further research and analysis will be necessary to fully understand the long-term benefits and risks of this treatment approach.
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