What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?

Insulin glargine is a bioengineered (man-made) injectable form of long-acting insulin that is used to regulate sugar (glucose) levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Individuals with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin on their own; and individuals with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or insulin is not as effective due to insulin resistance.

Insulin glargine works the same way as natural human insulin, but it's action lasts longer. It helps diabetic patients regulate glucose or sugar in the body. Insulin glargine works by promoting movement of sugar from blood into body tissues and also stops sugar production in liver. Insulin glargine is man-made insulin that mimics the actions of human insulin.

The FDA approved insulin glargine in April 2000.

What brand names are available for insulin glargine?

Lantus

Is insulin glargine available as a generic drug?

GENERIC AVAILABLE: No

Do I need a prescription for insulin glargine?

Yes

Common side effects of insulin glargine are:

  • Decreased blood sugar and injection site pain
  • Water retention in the joints and weight gain

Local allergic reactions that may occur at the injection sites are:

  • Rash
  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Irritation

Long term use of insulin glargine can lead to thickening of fat tissues at the injection site.

Severe allergic reactions are:

Individuals should contact a healthcare professional if they experience any of the above reactions.

What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
Diabetes: What Raises and Lowers Your Blood Sugar Level? See Slideshow

  • The starting dose should be individualized based on the type of diabetes and whether the patient is insulin-naïve.
  • Administer subcutaneously once daily at any time of day, but at the same time every day.
  • Rotate injection sites within an injection area (abdomen, thigh, or deltoid) to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy.
  • Converting from other insulin therapies may require adjustment of timing and dose of Lantus. Closely monitor glucoses especially upon converting to Lantus and during the initial weeks thereafter.

Safe and effective use of insulin glargine is not established for pregnant females.

It is not known whether insulin glargine enters breast milk; therefore, it should be used with caution in females who are breastfeeding.

What preparations of insulin glargine are available?

Insulin glargine is available as 100 units/ml. Insulin glargine is supplied in 10 ml vials, 3 ml SoloStar injectable pens, and a 3 ml cartridge system. Insulin glargine is given only by subcutaneous injection.

How should I keep insulin glargine stored?
  • Unopened vials, SoloStar pens, and cartridge systems should be refrigerated between 2 C and 8 C (36 F and 46 F).
  • Unopened vials, SoloStar pens, and cartridge systems, if refrigerated, are good until the expiration dates.
  • Unopened vials, SoloStar pens, and cartridge systems, stored at room temperature, are good for 28 days.
  • Opened vials and cartridge systems can be refrigerated or stored at room temperature below 30 C (86 F).
  • Cartridge systems inserted into the insulin delivery device and SoloStar pens should be stored only at room temperature below 30 C (86 F).
  • Opened vials, SoloStar pens, and cartridge systems are good for 28 days.

What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
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What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

FDA Prescribing Information.

Long-acting insulin

What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
Insulin glargine

Toujeo branded insulin glargine

Clinical dataTrade namesLantus, Toujeo, Basaglar, othersBiosimilarsinsulin glargine-aglr, insulin glargine-yfgn, Rezvoglar, Abasaglar, SemgleeAHFS/Drugs.comMonographMedlinePlusa600027License data

  • EU EMA: by INN
  • US DailyMed: Insulin_glargine

Pregnancy
category

  • AU: B3[1]

Routes of
administrationSubcutaneousATC code

  • A10AE04 (WHO)

Legal statusLegal status

  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • CA: ℞-only / Schedule D[2]
  • UK: POM (Prescription only) [3]
  • US: ℞-only [4]
  • EU: Rx-only [5][6]
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)

Pharmacokinetic dataOnset of action~1 hours[7]Duration of action24 to 36 hours[7]Identifiers

IUPAC name

  • Recombinant human insulin

CAS Number

  • 160337-95-1 
    What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
    Y

IUPHAR/BPS

  • 7572

DrugBank

  • DB00047 
    What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
    Y

ChemSpider

  • none

UNII

  • 2ZM8CX04RZ

KEGG

  • D03250 
    What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
    Y

CompTox Dashboard (EPA)

  • DTXSID0043927
    What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?

ECHA InfoCard100.241.126
What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
Chemical and physical dataFormulaC267H404N72O78S6Molar mass6062.96 g·mol−1 
What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
N
What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
Y (what is this?)
  (verify)

Insulin glargine, sold under the brand name Lantus among others, is a long-acting modified form of medical insulin, used in the management of type I and type II diabetes.[7] It is typically the recommended long acting insulin in the United Kingdom.[8][contradictory] It is used once a day as an injection just under the skin.[7] Effects generally begin an hour after use.[7]

Common side effects include low blood sugar, problems at the site of injection, itchiness, and weight gain.[7] Other serious side effects include low blood potassium.[7] NPH insulin rather than insulin glargine is generally preferred in pregnancy.[8] After injection microcrystals slowly release insulin for about 24 hours.[7] This insulin causes body tissues to absorb glucose from the blood and decreases glucose production by the liver.[7]

Insulin glargine was approved for medical use in the United States in 2000.[7] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[9] In 2020, it was the 32nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States with more than 17 million prescriptions.[10][11]

In July, 2021 the United State Food and Drug administration (FDA) approved an "interchangeable biosimilar insulin product" [12] called Semglee (insulin glargine yfgn) for the treatment of diabetes. This product costs a fraction of Lantus per dose, and has also been approved for use in other animals including cats and dogs.

Medical uses

The long-acting insulin class, which includes insulin glargine, do not appear much better than neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin,[13] but do have a greater cost, making them, as of 2010, not cost effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.[14] In a previous review it was unclear if there is a difference in hypoglycemia, as there was not enough data to determine any differences with respect to long term outcomes,[15] however a more recent Cochrane systematic review did not find clinically significant difference when comparing insulin glargine to NHP insulin, insulin detemir or insulin degludec in the management of type I Diabetes in neither adults or children in periods of 6 months or longer.[13] It is not typically the recommended long acting insulin in the United Kingdom.[8]

Mixing with other insulins

Unlike some other longer-acting insulins, glargine must not be diluted or mixed with other insulin or solution in the same syringe.[16] However, this restriction has been questioned.[17]

Adverse effects

Common side effects include low blood sugar, problems at the site of injection, itchiness, and weight gain.[7] Serious side effects include low blood potassium.[7]

As of 2012, tentative evidence shows no association between insulin glargine and cancer.[18] Previous studies had raised concerns.[19]

When comparing insulin glargine to NPH insulin, insulin detemir or insulin degludec, no significant adverse effects were found in the management of type I Diabetes in neither adults or children in periods of 6 months or longer.[13]

Pharmacology

Mechanism of action

Insulin glargine differs from human insulin by replacing asparagine with glycine in position 21 of the A-chain and by carboxy-terminal extension of B-chain by 2 arginine residues. The arginine amino acids shift the isoelectric point from a pH of 5.4 to 6.7, making the molecule more soluble at an acidic pH and less soluble at physiological pH. The isoelectric shift also allows for the subcutaneous injection of a clear solution. The glycine substitution prevents deamidation of the acid-sensitive asparagine at acidic pH. In the neutral subcutaneous space, higher-order aggregates form, resulting in a slow, peakless dissolution and absorption of insulin from the site of injection.[20] It can achieve a peakless level for at least 24 hours.

Acceptance and repartition in the body

Insulin glargine is formulated at an acidic pH 4, where it is completely water-soluble. After subcutaneous injection of the acidic solute (which can cause discomfort and a stinging sensation), when a physiologic pH (approximately 7.4) is achieved the increase in pH causes the insulin to come out of solution resulting in the formation of higher order aggregates of insulin hexamers. The higher order aggregation slows the dissociation of the hexamers into insulin monomers, the functional and physiologically active unit of insulin. This gradual process ensures that small amounts of insulin glargine are released into the body continuously, giving an almost peakless profile.

History

On 9 June 2000, the European Commission formally approved the launching of Lantus by Sanofi-Aventis Germany Ltd. in the entire European Union.[21] The admission was prolonged on 9 June 2005.[22]

A three-fold more concentrated formulation, brand name "Toujeo", was introduced after FDA approval in 2015.[23][24]

Approval and patents

Biosimilars

Abasaglar was approved for medical use in the European Union in September 2014.[25]

Lusduna was approved for medical use in the European Union in January 2017.[26]

In March 2018, insulin glargine (Semglee) was approved for medical use in the European Union.[27]

In July 2021, insulin glargine-yfgn (Semglee) was approved for medical use in the United States as the first interchangeable biosimilar of Lantus.[28]

Patent expiry

Patent protection for insulin glargine expired in most countries in 2015[citation needed] and in the U.S.A. is expected to expire on 2027-07-05.[29] Insulin glargine from competitor Eli Lilly became available in most countries during 2015, under the brand names Basaglar (as a follow-on in the US) and Abasaglar (as a biosimilar in the EU).[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Insulin glargine Use During Pregnancy". Drugs.com. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Summary Basis of Decision - Semglee". Health Canada. 23 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Lantus 100 units/ml solution for injection in a cartridge - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)". (emc). Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Lantus- insulin glargine injection, solution Lantus SoloStar- insulin glargine injection, solution". DailyMed. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Lantus EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Toujeo EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Insulin Glargine Monograph for Professionals". Drugs.com. AHFS. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  8. ^ a b c British national formulary: BNF 76 (76th ed.). Pharmaceutical Press. 2018. p. 701. ISBN 9780857113382.
  9. ^ World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.
  10. ^ "The Top 300 of 2020". ClinCalc. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Insulin Glargine - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  12. ^ "FDA Approves First Interchangeable Biosimilar Insulin Product for Treatment of Diabetes". Food and Drug Administration.
  13. ^ a b c Hemmingsen B, Metzendorf MI, Richter B (March 2021). "(Ultra-)long-acting insulin analogues for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3 (4): CD013498. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd013498.pub2. PMC 8094220. PMID 33662147.
  14. ^ Waugh N, Cummins E, Royle P, Clar C, Marien M, Richter B, Philip S (July 2010). "Newer agents for blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes: systematic review and economic evaluation". Health Technology Assessment. 14 (36): 1–248. doi:10.3310/hta14360. PMID 20646668.
  15. ^ Singh SR, Ahmad F, Lal A, Yu C, Bai Z, Bennett H (February 2009). "Efficacy and safety of insulin analogues for the management of diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis". CMAJ. 180 (4): 385–397. doi:10.1503/cmaj.081041. PMC 2638025. PMID 19221352.
  16. ^ American Diabetes Association (January 2003). "Insulin administration". Diabetes Care. 26 (Suppl. 1): S121–S124. doi:10.2337/diacare.26.2007.S121. PMID 12502637.
  17. ^ Kaplan W, Rodriguez LM, Smith OE, Haymond MW, Heptulla RA (November 2004). "Effects of mixing glargine and short-acting insulin analogs on glucose control". Diabetes Care. 27 (11): 2739–2740. doi:10.2337/diacare.27.11.2739. PMID 15505016.
  18. ^ Tang X, Yang L, He Z, Liu J (2012). "Insulin glargine and cancer risk in patients with diabetes: a meta-analysis". PLOS ONE. 7 (12): e51814. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...751814T. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051814. PMC 3526637. PMID 23284776.
  19. ^ Rendell M, Akturk HK, Tella SH (March 2013). "Glargine safety, diabetes and cancer". Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. 12 (2): 247–263. doi:10.1517/14740338.2013.770469. PMID 23394441. S2CID 9224923.
  20. ^ Bolli GB, Di Marchi RD, Park GD, Pramming S, Koivisto VA (October 1999). "Insulin analogues and their potential in the management of diabetes mellitus". Diabetologia. 42 (10): 1151–1167. doi:10.1007/s001250051286. PMID 10525654.
  21. ^ "Lantus EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  22. ^ EPAR Lantus Archived 22 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine, German summary of admission report of EMEA (PDF)
  23. ^ "Sanofi Receives FDA Approval of Once-Daily Basal Insulin Toujeo" (Press release). Sanofi. 25 February 2015. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015.
  24. ^ "Toujeo: FDA-Approved Drugs". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Abasaglar EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Lusduna EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Semglee EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  28. ^ "FDA Approves First Interchangeable Biosimilar Insulin Product for Treatment of Diabetes". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Press release). 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Amidated insulin glargine". Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

  • "Insulin glargine". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.

What is the mechanism of action of insulin glargine?
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