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Insulin lispro: a new quick-acting insulin analogue
1Diabetes and Metabolism, Medical School Unit, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK.
Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
|July 5, 2005
Summary
Insulin lispro offers faster absorption and action compared to human insulin. This rapid-acting insulin analogue allows for more flexible meal timing and improved glycemic control.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Human insulin self-associates into hexamers, causing a delay between subcutaneous injection and maximal pharmacodynamic effect.
- This delay can lead to challenges in matching insulin action with food absorption and post-meal glycemic control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce insulin lispro (Humalog), a biosynthetic insulin analogue with altered amino acid sequencing.
- To explain the mechanism behind its rapid absorption and improved pharmacokinetic profile compared to human insulin.
Main Methods:
- Modification of the C-terminal portion of the B chain of human insulin by reversing proline and lysine positions.
- Development of an insulin analogue with poor self-association properties.
Main Results:
- Insulin lispro exhibits poor self-association, leading to more rapid absorption into circulation.
- It demonstrates a faster onset and shorter duration of action compared to soluble human insulin preparations.
Conclusions:
- Insulin lispro provides better matching of insulin action to food absorption, improving post-prandial glycemic control.
- It reduces the risk of hypoglycemia and offers greater flexibility in injection timing relative to meals.
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