U300 Insulin Glargine: A Novel Basal Insulin for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: To review clinical efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 units/mL (Gla-300), a novel high-concentration basal insulin. Data Sources: A MEDLINE search was performed to identify relevant articles published 1960 through February 2015 using the search term glargine 300. Published abstracts from conference proceedings of the American Diabetes Association 74th Scientific Sessions were identified. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Human studies that evaluated pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or safety of Gla-300 were included. Data Synthesis: Six trials investigated efficacy and safety of Gla-300; 3 of 6 trials were available in abstract form only. The EDITION group of trials compared Gla-300 to insulin glargine 100 units/mL (Gla-100) in several populations. These included subjects with type 1 diabetes continuing mealtime insulin and subjects with type 2 diabetes on basal and mealtime insulin, basal insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and with no prior insulin use. Three studies were multinational including 2 studies exclusive to Japanese participants. Each clinical trial was an open-label, multicenter, randomized study with 6 to 12 months of follow-up. Gla-300 demonstrated similar reductions in HbA_1c compared to Gla-100. Basal insulin requirements increased by 11% to 17% with Gla-300 without excessive weight gain. Rates of overall hypoglycemia were similar with Gla-300 compared to Gla-100; however, 16% to 38% less nocturnal hypoglycemia was observed in type 2 clinical trials. Conclusions: Gla-300 in combination with mealtime insulin or OADs has shown comparable glycemic control with higher insulin dose requirements versus Gla-100, and may induce less hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.