Dasiglucagon for treating severe hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Diabetic patients are prone to hypoglycemia when treated with insulin. Dasiglucagon is a water-soluble and ready-to-use glucagon analog developed for treating hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes.

Areas covered

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed. Key search terms included dasiglucagon and hypoglycemia. The pharmacological characteristics, clinical evidence, and place in therapy of dasiglucagon were reviewed.

Expert opinion

Dasiglucagon is a glucagon analog that is stable in water-soluble formulation. It can increase plasma glucose in a dose-dependent manner. Clinical studies have shown that dasiglucagon rapidly and effectively improved insulin-induced hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes. Dasiglucagon was well tolerated and the common adverse events included nausea and vomiting.

KEYWORDS:

• glucagon
• hypoglycemia
• type 1 diabetes
• dasiglucagon
• insulin treatment

Article highlights

• Dasiglucagon is a novel glucagon analog in a ready-to-use aqueous solution.

• C_max is 1,570 pmol/L, AUC is 2,640 pmol·h/L, T_max is about 35 minutes, Vd is 47–57 L, and t_1/2 is about 30 minutes.

• Dasiglucagon is indicated for diabetic hypoglycemia.

• Common adverse reactions included nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, and injection site pain.

• The recommended dose is 0.6 mg, administered by subcutaneous injection.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

A reviewer on this manuscript has disclosed receiving research funds to conduct trials for Xeris, Zealand, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly (all are glucagon or analog manufacturers). Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.