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Published on: March 14, 2019
Stabilized glucagon formulation for bihormonal pump use
Solomon S Steiner1, Ming Li, Robert Hauser
1Biodel Inc., Danbury, Connecticut 06810, USA. ssteiner@biodel.com
Background:
A promising approach to treat diabetes is the development of an automated bihormonal pump administering glucagon and insulin. A physically and chemically stable glucagon formulation does not currently exist. Our goal is to develop a glucagon formulation that is stable as a clear ungelled solution, free of fibrils at a pH of 7 for at least 7 days at 37 °C.
Methods:
Experimental glucagon formulations were studied for stability at 25 and 37 °C. Chemical degradation was quantified by reverse phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Physical changes were studied using light obscuration and visual observations.
Results:
Glucagon content of Biodel glucagon and Lilly glucagon at pH 2 and pH 4, as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography at 25 °C, was 100% at 7 days compared to 87% and <7%, respectively. Light obscuration measurements indicated Lilly glucagon at pH 4 formed an opaque gel, while Biodel glucagon formulation remained a clear solution beyond 50 days at 37 °C. Visual observations confirmed these results.
Conclusions:
Biodel glucagon is a stabilized formulation at physiological pH and remains chemically and physically stable beyond 7 days at 37 °C, suggesting its utility for use in a bihormonal pump.
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