There has been a lot of action at the FDA this year. Several novel insulin combination medications were approved as well as the first “bio-similar” insulin, Basaglar.
We have kept our Diabetes Pocket Cards Up-to-Date on the CDCES Coach App and on our PocketCard Download Page.
New Insulin / GLP-1 Combo Pens
The FDA released the final dosing strategies and guidelines for IDegLira and iGlarLixi. These pen devices will be expensive for those without insurance coverage.
They offer users a unique opportunity to inject a once-a-day combination of basal insulin plus a GLP-1 Combination which has been show to effectively lower A1c in Type 2 Diabetes with less weight gain and hypoglycemia than with insulin alone.
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Insulin Updates
Basaglar has launched. This “copycat” basal insulin has the same amino acid sequence as Lantus. The list price, $316.85 for a pack of 5 pens is a 15% discount to Lantus and Toujeo, a 21% discount to Levemir, and a 28% discount to Tresiba.
Oral Medication Updates
Actos (pioglitazone) a new study seems to confirm that Actos may pose an increased risk for bladder cancer. A study published in BMJ earlier this year reported a 63% higher risk for bladder cancer with Actos. Patients on Actos should report andy signs of bladder cancer (such as blood in the urine) and avoid if they have had a history of bladder cancer.
Synjardy XR – A new once-a-day combo medication was recently approved. Synjardy XR (empagliflozin and metformin XR). This medication reduces blood glucose and decreases risk of CV death without weight gain or hypoglycemia.
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