Evaluating the managed care implications of longer-acting basal insulin analog therapies

Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D), has become an epidemic in the United States, with a significant portion of patients unable to meet recommended glycemic targets. All individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and a significant majority of those with T2D will ultimately require insulin therapy. However, there are several barriers to its use. The introduction of the new, ultra-long-acting basal insulins degludec and glargine U-300, and the single-injection combinations of insulin degludec/liraglutide and insulin glargine U-100/lixisenatide, offer options that may overcome several of those barriers, including the high risk of hypoglycemia, glycemic variability, and relatively short duration of action. This article spotlights the outcomes of the phase 3 clinical trials for these newer formulations, as well as more recent meta-analyses and real-world studies. It also highlights the implications for managed care plans as they move to add these insulins to their formularies.