Once-a-week insulin jab for type 2 diabetes gets NICE approval

Library image. Credit: Getty/agrobacter

By Sarah Lowden

A once-a-week insulin injection to replace daily injections has been recommended by the NHS spending watchdog for patients with type 2 diabetes.

It is after clinical trial evidence found patients could expect similar blood glucose control with the weekly injection compared to daily ones.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the switch could cut the number of injections a patient needs by 85%.

It could benefit hundreds of thousands of patients in England and Wales but it is yet to be approved by the medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Insulin efsitora alfa, also known as Onswik and made by Eli Lilly, has been approved by NICE in its final draft guidance.

NICE’s review looked at its effectiveness compared with two widely used long-acting insulins, insulin degludec and insulin glargine, and found it was comparable in controlling blood sugar levels.

It has recommended the NHS fund the treatment in England. The NHS in Wales has been told by ministers to fund it. Northern Ireland and Scotland make separate funding decisions.