When individuals with type 2 diabetes discover that their oral medications are no longer effective in controlling their blood sugar, insulin therapy is introduced. The frequency of insulin injections (such as daily injections) is one of the primary factors that can lead to difficulties in adhering to the treatment. Other factors include concerns about weight gain and experiencing hypoglycemic episodes, also known as “hypos.”

Insulin efsitora alfa (efsitora) is a new basal insulin designed for once-weekly administration. Clinical data on its safety and effectiveness so far have been limited to small phase 1 or phase 2 trials. This new phase 3 study compared the effectiveness of once-weekly visitors to daily injections of insulin degludec (standard insulin) in adult patients who had not yet started insulin therapy despite being on multiple oral diabetes medications and still not reaching their glycemic goals.

The authors state: “Among adults with type 2 diabetes who had not previously received insulin, once-weekly efsitora was found to be as effective as once-daily degludec in controlling high blood sugar by reducing glycated hemoglobin levels.”

“The potential of a once-weekly insulin is to simplify dose administration and reduce barriers to starting insulin therapy by decreasing injection frequency compared to a once-daily insulin. A recent study on preferences for once-weekly basal insulin in adults with type 2 diabetes showed that both patients and providers would favor once-weekly basal insulin over current basal insulin preparations.”