Degludec (Tresiba) is approved for use in pregnancy

      Degludec, a second-generation basal insulin, has been shown to have an improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile. A recent study, called the EXPECT trial, assessed the efficacy of Tresiba, the brand name for degludec, in pregnancy. The open-label, multinational, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial was conducted at 56 sites in 14 countries and included women aged at least 18 years with type 1 diabetes who were between gestational age 8 weeks (+0 days) and 13 weeks (+6 days), or planned to become pregnant.

      The women were randomly assigned (1:1), via an interactive web response system, to receive either degludec (100 U/mL) once daily or detemir (100 U/mL) once or twice daily, both with mealtime insulin aspart (100 U/mL), all via subcutaneous injection. The trial showed a significant improvement in HbA1c levels before delivery with no additional safety issues. The study also demonstrated non-inferiority of degludec to detemir. These results suggest that Tresiba may be a potential option for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes.

      Overall, the study highlights the potential benefits of using degludec in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, offering an alternative to detemir. The trial was conducted across multiple countries, providing a broad range of data that can be used to inform clinical practice. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effects of using Tresiba during pregnancy, but the results from the EXPECT trial suggest that it is a promising treatment option.

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