Pharmacokinetics and Glucodynamics of Ultra Rapid Lispro (URLi) versus Humalog (Lispro) in Younger Adults and Elderly Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: Ultra rapid lispro (URLi) is a novel insulin lispro formulation developed to more closely match physiological insulin secretion and improve postprandial glucose control. This study compared the pharmacokinetics, glucodynamics, safety, and tolerability of URLi and Humalog in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods: This was a phase I, two-period, randomised, double-blind, crossover glucose clamp study in younger adult (aged 18-45 years; n = 41) and elderly (aged ≥65 years; n = 39) patients with T1DM. At each dosing visit, patients received either URLi or Humalog (15 units subcutaneously) followed by a 10 h automated euglycaemic clamp procedure. Serum insulin lispro and blood glucose were measured.

Results: Insulin lispro appeared in serum 6 min faster, and exposure was 7.2-fold greater over the first 15 min postdose with URLi versus Humalog in both age groups. Exposure beyond 3 h postdose was 39-41% lower, and exposure duration was reduced by 72-74 min with URLi versus Humalog in both age groups. Onset of insulin action was 11-12 min faster, and insulin action was 3-fold greater over the first 30 min postdose with URLi versus Humalog in both age groups. Insulin action beyond 4 h postdose was 44-54% lower, and duration of action was reduced by 34-44 min with URLi versus Humalog in both age groups. Overall exposure and total insulin action remained similar for both treatments. URLi and Humalog were well tolerated.

Conclusion: In patients with T1DM, URLi showed ultra-rapid pharmacokinetics and glucodynamics, with the differences between URLi and Humalog in elderly patients mirroring those in younger adults. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03166124.