Novo Nordisk’s ‘Awiqli’: India has become one of the first countries in the world where ‘Awiqli’ has been launched. It is the world’s first basal insulin approved for clinical use that requires administration only once a week. This offers a new treatment option for adults living with diabetes.
According to a Reuters report, this launch comes at a critical time for India, as the country bears the world’s highest burden of diabetes. Over 101 million people in the country are suffering from diabetes, and an estimated 136 million have pre-diabetes.
Novo Nordisk stated that ‘Awiqli’ (generically known as ‘insulin icodec’) simplifies insulin therapy. It reduces the number of injections from 365 to just 52 per year while delivering results comparable to, or better than, existing daily basal insulins in controlling blood sugar.
What is Awiqli?
Awiqli is the world’s first basal (long-acting) insulin that needs to be taken only once a week.
| Mechanism of action | Unlike conventional basal insulins, which require daily injections to maintain stable blood sugar levels over 24 hours, Awiqli utilises a unique protein-binding structure. This allows it to be released slowly into the body over a full 7 days. |
| Benefit | This significantly reduces the treatment burden for patients, as they require only 52 injections of basal insulin per year instead of 365. |
‘Awiqli’ is a long-acting basal insulin designed to provide continuous insulin support throughout the week. Unlike standard basal insulins, which are injected once every 24 hours, ‘Awiqli’ is administered once a week on the same day using a pre-filled pen device. The injection is administered subcutaneously (under the skin) in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and the dosage is determined based on the patient’s blood glucose levels.
Why this is important for India
This launch is particularly significant for India, as the country has the highest number of diabetes patients in the world.
A) Overcoming hesitation to start treatment: Many patients delay starting insulin therapy for years due to a “fear of needles” or the inconvenience of daily injections. By reducing the frequency of injections, Awiqli aims to lower both the psychological and physical barriers to initiating insulin therapy.
B) Accessibility: Novo Nordisk has priced the product to ensure it reaches the maximum number of patients; the price is reported to be competitive compared to existing basal insulin analogues.
Key points for patients
While convenient, this is an effective medical treatment that requires specific precautions:
A) Not interchangeable: Awiqli cannot be directly substituted for daily insulin. It is highly concentrated; therefore, doctors must follow specific clinical guidelines when transitioning a patient from daily injections to a once-weekly regimen to avoid dosing errors.
B) Usage: It is approved for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. For Type 1 diabetes, it must always be used in combination with short-acting or rapid-acting insulin. Safety: As with all insulins, the most common risk is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Patients must be trained on the correct use of the FlexTouch pen device and must strictly adhere to the once-weekly injection schedule.
