Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Once-Weekly Insulin Icodec: Safety Profile in Type 2 and Type 1 Diabetes Based on a Pooled Analysis of ONWARDS 1-6
Harpreet S Bajaj1, Sofie Bech Andersen2, Boryana Hristova2
1LMC Diabetes and Endocrinology, Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
The safety profile of once-weekly insulin icodec is similar to daily basal insulins in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. This analysis of ONWARDS trials found comparable rates of adverse events and cardiovascular outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Once-weekly insulin icodec offers a novel dosing regimen for diabetes management.
- Understanding its safety profile beyond hypoglycemia is crucial for clinical adoption.
- The ONWARDS phase 3a trials provide a robust dataset for safety evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety profile of once-weekly insulin icodec.
- To compare safety aspects, excluding hypoglycemia, with once-daily basal insulins.
- To analyze adverse events, hypersensitivity, injection-site reactions, and cardiovascular outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Pooled safety data from ONWARDS 1-6 phase 3a trials.
- Inclusion of insulin-naive and insulin-experienced adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and type 1 diabetes (T1D).
- Evaluation of adverse events (AEs), hypersensitivity, injection-site reactions, medication errors, and time to major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE).
Main Results:
- Similar overall, serious, and severe AE rates between icodec and comparator groups (events/100 patient-years).
- Comparable rates of hypersensitivity and injection-site reactions.
- Similar time to first MACE between treatment groups (HR: 0.93 [95% CI: 0.56-1.56]).
Conclusions:
- Once-weekly insulin icodec demonstrates a safety profile generally similar to once-daily basal insulins.
- The safety findings support the use of icodec in adults with T1D and T2D.
- Further analysis confirms the safety of icodec beyond hypoglycemia in large-scale trials.
Related Concept Videos
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations

