Insulin lispro (marketed by Eli Lilly and Company as Humalog) is a fast acting insulin analog. It was first approved for use in the United States in 1996, making it the first insulin analog to enter the market.
Engineered through recombinant DNA technology, the penultimate lysine and proline residues on the C-terminal end of the B-chain are reversed. This modification does not alter receptor binding, but blocks the formation of insulin dimers and hexamers. This allowed larger amounts of active monomeric insulin to be immediately available for postprandial injections.
Insulin lispro has one primary advantage over regular insulin for postprandial glucose control. It has a shortened delay of onset, allowing slightly more flexibility than regular insulin, which requires a longer waiting period before starting a meal after injection. Both preparations should be coupled with a longer acting insulin (e.g. Insulin degludec) for good glycemic control.
Medical uses
Insulin lispro is an FDA approved drug used to treat people living with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Insulin lispro has non-FDA labeled uses for diabetic nephropathy prevention, diabetic neuropathy prevention, and cardiovascular disease prevention.
Side effects
Common side effects include skin irritation at the site of injection, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, and lipodystrophy. Other serious side effects include anaphylaxis, and hypersensitivity reactions.
Contraindications
Do not administer insulin lispro during episodes of hypoglycemia, or if the patient has a hypersensitivity to insulin lispro or any of its excipients.
Cost
In the United States as of 2015 the cost is between 10.06 and 29.36 USD per 100 units.
In Europe the price is far lower. The cost in the UK is between £1.66 (about $2.50) and £1.96 (about $3.00) per 100 units as of 2017.
External links
- FDA Warning Letter to Lilly re: instability of Humalog Crystals-February 22, 2010
