INSULIN FORMULATIONS FOR BETTER SUPPLY

Abstract

Since insulin was first used in 1922 for the treatment of diabetes, the inability to mimic normal physiological secretion has been a major limitation for achieving optimal glycemic control. Therefore, considerable research has been undertaken to develop insulin formulations that have more physiological time-action profiles to cover basal and prandial needs. Although human insulin formulations produced by recombinant DNA technology were a significant advance over animal insulin isolated from pancreatic tissue, therapy still resulted in a delayed onset and prolonged duration of action of bolus insulin. To overcome these limitations, insulin and premixed insulin analogs formulations have been developed in an attempt to mimic the insulin secretion patterns found in individuals without diabetes. This interest has led to the development of insulin formulations that are characterized by flexible, predictable and physiological action profiles along with freedom from the fear of hypoglycemia.