Generic Name

Glulisine

Brand Names
Apidra, Apidra SoloStar
FDA approval date: February 24, 2009
Classification: Insulin Analog
Form: Injection

What is Apidra (Glulisine)?

APIDRA is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. APIDRA is a rapid-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.

Brand Information

    Apidra (insulin glulisine)
    1INDICATIONS AND USAGE
    APIDRA is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
    2DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
    Injection: 100 units per mL (U-100), a clear and colorless solution available as:
    • 10 mL multiple-dose vial
    • 3 mL single-patient-use APIDRA SoloStar prefilled pen
    3CONTRAINDICATIONS
    APIDRA is contraindicated:
    • during episodes of hypoglycemia
    • in patients with known hypersensitivity to insulin glulisine or to any of the excipients in APIDRA; systemic allergic reactions have occurred with APIDRA
    4ADVERSE REACTIONS
    The following adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere:
    • Hypoglycemia
    • Hypoglycemia Due to Medication Errors
    • Hypokalemia
    • Hypersensitivity Reactions
    4.1Clinical Trials Experience
    Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying designs, the adverse reaction rates reported in one clinical trial may not be easily compared to those rates reported in another clinical trial and may not reflect the rates actually observed in clinical practice.
    The data in Table 1 reflect the exposure of 1591 patients with type 1 diabetes to APIDRA or comparators
    The data in Table 2 reflect the exposure of 1766 patients with type 2 diabetes to APIDRA or comparators
    The frequencies of adverse drug reactions during APIDRA clinical trials in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus are listed in the tables below.
    4.2Immunogenicity
    As with all therapeutic proteins, there is potential for immunogenicity. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medication, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to APIDRA in the studies described below with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other insulin products may be misleading.
    In a study in patients with type 1 diabetes (n=333), the concentrations of insulin antibodies that react with both human insulin and insulin glulisine (cross-reactive insulin antibodies) remained near baseline during the first 6 months of the study in the patients treated with APIDRA. A decrease in antibody concentration was observed during the following 6 months of the study. In a study in patients with type 2 diabetes (n=411), a similar increase in cross-reactive insulin antibody concentration was observed in the patients treated with APIDRA and in the patients treated with human insulin during the first 9 months of the study. Thereafter the concentration of antibodies decreased in the APIDRA patients and remained stable in the human insulin patients. There was no correlation between cross-reactive insulin antibody concentration and changes in HbA1c, insulin doses, or incidence of hypoglycemia. APIDRA did not elicit a significant antibody response in a study of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes.
    4.3Postmarketing Experience
    The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of APIDRA. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate reliably their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
    Medication errors have been reported in which other insulins, particularly long-acting insulins, have been accidentally administered instead of APIDRA.
    Localized cutaneous amyloidosis at the injection site has occurred. Hyperglycemia has been reported with repeated insulin injections into areas of localized cutaneous amyloidosis; hypoglycemia has been reported with a sudden change to an unaffected injection site.
    5OVERDOSAGE
    Excess insulin may cause hypoglycemia and, particularly when given intravenously, hypokalemia. Mild episodes of hypoglycemia usually can be treated with oral glucose. Adjustments in drug dosage, meal patterns, or exercise may be needed. More severe episodes of hypoglycemia with coma, seizure, or neurologic impairment may be treated with a glucagon product for emergency use or concentrated intravenous glucose. Sustained carbohydrate intake and observation may be necessary because hypoglycemia may recur after apparent clinical recovery. Hypokalemia must be corrected appropriately.
    6DESCRIPTION
    Insulin glulisine is a rapid-acting human insulin analog used to lower blood glucose. Insulin glulisine is produced by recombinant DNA technology utilizing a non-pathogenic laboratory strain of
    APIDRA (insulin glulisine) injection is a sterile, aqueous, clear, and colorless solution for subcutaneous or intravenous use. Each milliliter of APIDRA contains 100 units insulin glulisine, metacresol (3.15 mg), polysorbate 20 (0.01 mg), sodium chloride (5 mg), tromethamine (6 mg), and water for injection. APIDRA has a pH of approximately 7.3. The pH is adjusted by addition of aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide.
    7CLINICAL STUDIES
    The safety and efficacy of APIDRA were studied in adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes (n=1833) and in pediatric patients (4 to 17 years) with type 1 diabetes (n=572). The primary efficacy parameter in these trials was glycemic control, assessed using glycated hemoglobin (GHb reported as HbA1c equivalent).
    7.1Type 1 Diabetes-Adults
    A 26-week, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, non-inferiority study was conducted in patients with type 1 diabetes to assess the safety and efficacy of APIDRA (n=339) compared to insulin lispro (n=333) when administered subcutaneously within 15 minutes before a meal. Insulin glargine was administered once daily in the evening as the basal insulin. There was a 4-week run-in period with insulin lispro and insulin glargine prior to randomization. Most patients were Caucasian (97%). Fifty-eight percent of the patients were men. The mean age was 39 years (range 18 to 74 years). Glycemic control, the number of daily short-acting insulin injections and the total daily doses of APIDRA and insulin lispro were similar in the two treatment groups (see
    7.2Type 2 Diabetes-Adults
    A 26-week, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, non-inferiority study was conducted in insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes to assess the safety and efficacy of APIDRA (n=435) given within 15 minutes before a meal compared to regular human insulin (n=441) administered 30 to 45 minutes prior to a meal. NPH human insulin was given twice a day as the basal insulin. All patients participated in a 4-week run-in period with regular human insulin and NPH human insulin. Eighty-five percent of patients were Caucasian and 11% were Black. The mean age was 58 years (range 26 to 84 years). The average body mass index (BMI) was 34.6 kg/m
    7.3Type 1 Diabetes-Adults: Pre and Postmeal Administration
    A 12-week, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, non-inferiority study was conducted in patients with type 1 diabetes to assess the safety and efficacy of APIDRA administered at different times with respect to a meal. APIDRA was administered subcutaneously either within 15 minutes before a meal (n=286) or immediately after a meal (n=296) and regular human insulin (n=278) was administered subcutaneously 30 to 45 minutes prior to a meal. Insulin glargine was administered once daily at bedtime as the basal insulin. There was a 4-week run-in period with regular human insulin and insulin glargine followed by randomization. Most patients were Caucasian (94%). The mean age was 40 years (range 18 to 73 years). Glycemic control (see
    7.4Type 1 Diabetes-Pediatric Patients
    A 26-week, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, non-inferiority study was conducted in children and adolescents older than 4 years of age with type 1 diabetes mellitus to assess the safety and efficacy of APIDRA (n=277) compared to insulin lispro (n=295) when administered subcutaneously within 15 minutes before a meal. Patients also received insulin glargine (administered once daily in the evening) or NPH insulin (administered once in the morning and once in the evening). There was a 4-week run-in period with insulin lispro and insulin glargine or NPH prior to randomization. Most patients were Caucasian (91%). Fifty percent of the patients were male. The mean age was 12.5 years (range 4 to 17 years). Mean BMI was 20.6 kg/m
    7.5Type 1 Diabetes-Adults: Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion
    A 12-week randomized, active control study (APIDRA versus insulin aspart) conducted in adults with type 1 diabetes (APIDRA n=29, insulin aspart n=30) evaluated the use of APIDRA in an external continuous subcutaneous insulin pump. All patients were Caucasian. The mean age was 46 years (range 21 to 73 years). The mean GHb increased from baseline to endpoint in both treatment groups (from 6.8% to 7.0% for APIDRA; from 7.1% to 7.2% for insulin aspart).
    8PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
    Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information and Instructions for Use).
    9PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 10 mL Vial Carton
    NDC 0088-2500-33
    Apidra
    100 units/mL
    For subcutaneous use
    For intravenous infusion
    Use only if solution is
    One 10 mL
    sanofi
    PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 10 mL Vial Carton
    10PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 3 mL Pen Carton
    NDC 0088-2502-05
    Apidra
    For Single Patient Use Only
    100 units/mL (U-100)
    Five 3 mL prefilled pens – Dispense in this sealed carton
    sanofi
    PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 3 mL Pen Carton
    Apidra has been selected.