Tresiba Insulin Improves Glycemic Control in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Combined with bolus insulin aspart (NovoLog), insulin degludec (Tresiba) improves long-term glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, according to new efficacy and safety data presented by Novo Nordisk at the 50^th Annual Meeting of the European Association of the Study of Diabetes.

"When treating children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, it is critical that the right balance between glycemic control and side effect management is maintained to ensure the best possible long-term outcomes,” noted Nandu Thalange, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in the United Kingdom. “These data show that Tresiba has the potential to offer youngsters with diabetes a new treatment option, which may help them achieve better control of their diabetes.”

In the 26-week BEGIN Young 1 trial, patients aged between 1 and 18 years with type 1 diabetes were randomized to receive once-daily Tresiba or once- or twice-daily insulin detemir (Levemir) in combination with NovoLog. At the conclusion of the study, Tresiba met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority to Levemir on mean change in HbA1C.

Additionally, patients who received Tresiba achieved “a lower insulin dose and a significantly greater reduction in fasting plasma glucose” compared to Levemir in the trial’s 26-week extension phase. Those taking Tresiba also had significantly lower rates of hyperglycemia with ketosis, though weight increased with Tresiba while remaining unchanged with Levemir.

Tresiba is a once-daily basal insulin with a duration of action beyond 42 hours. The drug has received regulatory approval in Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Hong Kong, Iceland, and several other countries, though the FDA has not approved it.

Tresiba, Levemir, and NovoLog are all marketed by Novo Nordisk.