Frequency and Severity of Hypoglycemia Under Conditions of Increased Hypoglycemic Risk with Insulin Efsitora Alfa Versus Insulin Glargine Treatment in Participants with Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin efsitora alfa (efsitora) is a basal insulin with a flat pharmacokinetic profile and long half-life, enabling weekly dosing. These attributes may provide stable glucose levels. This exploratory phase 1 study aimed to assess the hypoglycemic risk during experimental conditions that mimic situations encountered in daily life.

This was a single-site, open-label, two-period, fixed-sequence study in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) previously treated with basal insulin. The incidence, duration, and nadir glucose of hypoglycemia were assessed after treatment with efsitora versus insulin glargine (glargine) during three provocation conditions: 24-h prolonged fasting, prolonged fasting with exercise, and double dosing of study insulin.

The 54 enrolled adults (BMI 21.8–39.7 kg/m², HbA1c 6.5–9.4%) achieved stable fasting glucose before undergoing provocation. Most hypoglycemic events were level 1 (≥ 54 to < 70 mg/dL) and resolved spontaneously or after oral glucose. The incidences of level 1 hypoglycemia for efsitora and glargine were not significantly different: for prolonged fasting, the incidences were 44.7 vs. 42.6% and the difference in proportion was 2.1% (95% CI: – 17.2, 21.4); for prolonged fasting with exercise, the corresponding values were 65.9 vs. 50.0% and 15.9% (– 3.0, 34.8); for double dosing, the corresponding values were 68.1 vs. 61.7% and 6.4% (– 12.8, 25.6). Level 2 hypoglycemia (< 54 mg/dL) was infrequent during both treatments and all provocations. No severe hypoglycemia was observed. Mean nadir glucose (range 62.8–66.3 mg/dL) and hypoglycemia duration (range 76.6–115.2 min) were also similar for the two treatments, depending on the provocation.

Overall, weekly efsitora did not increase the incidence, duration, or severity of hypoglycemia compared to daily glargine during provocation periods in patients with T2D.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04957914.