Key Summary
- The new drug is administered via injection once a week, and it will benefit diabetes patients who rely on daily injections
- Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin, or the insulin it produces does not work properly.
- There were 4.6 million people in the UK with diagnosed diabetes mellitus in 2023-24, of which around 90% had type 2 diabetes.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised the Eli Lilly's insulin drug Onswik (insulin efsitora alfa) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (elevated blood glucose levels) in adults.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) had in August published final draft guidance recommending insulin efsitora alfa as an option to treat type 2 diabetes.
NICE’s recommendation was subject to MHRA licensing, which has now been granted. Hence, it will soon be available on the NHS.
The new drug is administered via injection once a week, and it will benefit those diabetes patients who rely on daily injections.
It will benefit people who need help to inject their insulin as it will mean fewer visits from carers or healthcare workers, and less disruption to everyday life.
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin, or the insulin it produces does not work properly.
Insulin helps regulate blood glucose levels by stimulating glucose uptake into muscle and fat cells and by reducing glucose production by the liver.
It also inhibits the breakdown of fat and protein and promotes protein synthesis.
The lack of insulin results in high levels of glucose in the blood, which can lead to serious health complications.
MHRA Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access Julian Beach said: “This authorisation follows a rigorous assessment of the available evidence.
“Clinical trial data showed that once-weekly insulin efsitora alfa provided glycaemic control comparable to once-daily basal insulin treatments in adults with type 2 diabetes.
The most common adverse reaction reported with insulin efsitora alfa is hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).
There were 4.6 million people in the UK with diagnosed diabetes mellitus (elevated blood glucose levels) in 2023-24, of which around 90% had type 2 diabetes.
According to Diabetes UK, almost 1.3 million people could be living with type 2 diabetes who are yet to be diagnosed, and an estimated 6.9 million people are at an increased risk based on their blood sugar levels.
People of Asian (including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) Chinese, Black African and Black Caribbean ethnicities have been found to be two to four times more likely to have diabetes than White populations.
