ATC Group: A10A Insulins and analogues

The blood glucose lowering effect of insulin is due to the facilitated uptake of glucose following binding of insulin to receptors on muscle and fat cells and to the simultaneous inhibition of glucose output from the liver.

The blood glucose lowering effect of insulin aspart is due to the facilitated uptake of glucose following binding of insulin to receptors on muscle and fat cells and to the simultaneous inhibition of glucose output from the liver. Insulin aspart produces a more rapid onset of action compared to soluble human insulin, together with a lower glucose concentration, as assessed within the first four hours after a meal. Insulin aspart has a shorter duration of action compared to soluble human insulin after subcutaneous injection.

Insulin degludec binds specifically to the human insulin receptor and results in the same pharmacological effects as human insulin. The blood glucose-lowering effect of insulin is due to the facilitated uptake of glucose following the binding of insulin to receptors on muscle and fat cells and to the simultaneous inhibition of glucose output from the liver.

Insulin degludec/liraglutide is a combination having complementary mechanisms of action to improve glycaemic control. Insulin degludec is a basal insulin that forms soluble multi-hexamers upon subcutaneous injection, resulting in a depot from which insulin degludec is continuously and slowly absorbed into the circulation leading to a flat and stable glucose-lowering effect of insulin degludec with a low day-today variability in insulin action. Liraglutide is a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue. Liraglutide action is mediated via a specific interaction with GLP-1 receptors and improves glycaemic control by lowering fasting and postprandial blood glucose.

Insulin detemir is a soluble, long-acting insulin analogue with a prolonged duration of effect used as a basal insulin.

Insulin glargine is a human insulin analogue designed to have a low solubility at neutral pH. After injection, the acidic solution is neutralised leading to formation of a precipitate from which small amounts of insulin glargine are continuously released.

Combination of two active substances with complementary mechanisms of action to improve glycaemic control: insulin glargine, a basal insulin analogue (mainly targeting fasting plasma glucose), and lixisenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist (mainly targeting postprandial glucose).

Insulin glulisine is a recombinant human insulin analogue that is equipotent to regular human insulin. Insulin glulisine has a more rapid onset of action and a shorter duration of action than regular human insulin.

The primary activity of insulin lispro is the regulation of glucose metabolism.