Does all the evidence say that insulin analogues are more effective than human insulins?

Abstract

Currently, a large amount of data has been accumulated to compare recombinant human insulin with insulin analogues, including meta-analyzes of comparative efficacy and safety, as well as cost-effectiveness data and data on the possible carcinogenicity of new products. Insulin treatment is a necessity for some people with diabetes mellitus (DM) due to the need to maintain optimal blood glucose levels. The authors emphasize the need to keep in mind that new insulin drugs are much more expensive, which may limit their use. Factors such as the effectiveness of treatment, its safety, and patient satisfaction should be taken into account when deciding on the choice of therapy, but the cost of treatment cannot be ignored, given that it is usually reimbursable from the budget. In this regard, insulin therapy should be individually selected taking into account the needs of patients, treatment goals, safety, and cost. The authors propose an analysis of these data on the feasibility of using insulin analogues in comparison with recombinant human insulin for patients with type 1 diabetes and patients with type 2 diabetes and their effectiveness in both types of diabetes. A reasonable policy for the use of insulin therapy should be developed based on available clinical data based on comparative studies in different groups of diabetics and comprehensive analysis of economic data. The feasibility of a new drug should be evaluated and regularly reviewed in light of the practical results of its use in clinical practice. It is also necessary to regularly conduct a retrospective economic analysis to assess the pharmacoeconomic benefits. All of these steps should assist decision-makers and regulators in implementing effective national programs to develop new effective insulin procurement systems.

Keywords

• diabetes mellitus, insulin therapy, insulin analogues, recombinant human insulin, efficacy