Pharmacokinetic (PK) Bioequivalence and Pharmacodynamics of Julphar Insulin R and Huminsulin® Normal

A Randomized, Single-center, Double-blind, 2-period Crossover, Euglycemic Glucose Clamp Study in Healthy Subjects to Demonstrate PK and PD Equivalence of Julphar Insulin R and Huminsulin® Normal

This study in healthy volunteers aimed to demonstrate similar PK and PD properties of the new short-acting human soluble insulin, Julphar Insulin R, and the already approved reference insulin, Huminsulin® Normal. The trial participants received both study treatments on two separate dosing days.

The daily injection of insulin is a necessity for many patients with diabetes mellitus in order to treat hyperglycemia. Julphar Insulin R and Huminsulin® Normal are both soluble insulins intended for subcutaneous administration and consist of a neutral solution containing recombinant human insulin as the active ingredient. The new insulin, Julphar Insulin R is biosimilar to Huminsulin® Normal. Demonstration of bioequivalence from a PK and PD perspective of the two insulins are necessary to achieve market approval for Julphar Insulin R.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Signed and dated informed consent obtained before any trial-related activities. (Trial-related activities are any procedure that would not have been performed during normal management of the subject).
• Healthy male or female subjects.
• Age between 18 and 55 years, both inclusive.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 28.0 kg/m^2, both inclusive.
• Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≤5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known or suspected hypersensitivity to trial product(s) or related products.
• Receipt of any IMP within 3 months prior to screening.
• Any history or presence of a life threatening disease (i.e., cancer except basal cell skin cancer or squamous cell skin cancer), or of clinically relevant cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, metabolic, haematological, neurological, musculoskeletal, articular, psychiatric, systemic, ocular, gynaecologic (females), or infectious disease, or signs of acute illness as judged by the Investigator.
• Surgery within 12 weeks before the start of the study or blood donation of more than 500 mL (or considerable blood loss) or plasma donation within the last 3 months.
• Increased risk of thrombosis, e.g., subjects with a history of deep leg vein thrombosis or family history of deep leg vein thrombosis, as judged by the Investigator.
• Haemoglobin < 8.0 mmol/L (male) or < 6.4 mmol/L (female), total leukocyte count < 3.0 x 10^9/L, thrombocytes < 100 x 10^9/L, serum creatinine levels ≥ 126 µmol/L (male) or ≥ 111 µmol/L (female), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2 x the upper limit of normal (ULN), bilirubin > 3 x ULN, alkaline phosphatase > 2 x ULN.
• Supine blood pressure (BP) at screening (after resting for 5 minutes in a supine position) outside the range of 90 to 140 mmHg for systolic BP or 50 to 90 mmHg for diastolic BP (excluding white-coat hypertension; therefore, if a repeated measurement shows values within the range, the subject can be included in the trial) and/or resting supine pulse < 50 beats per minute.
• Clinically significant abnormal standard 12-lead ECG after 5 minutes resting in a supine position at screening, as judged by the Investigator.
• Any disease or condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would represent an unacceptable risk for the subject's safety.
• Subject known to be positive for Hepatitis Bs antigen (HBsAg) or Hepatitis C antibodies (or diagnosed with active hepatitis according to local practice) or test positive at screening for human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) antibodies, HIV Type 2 (HIV 2) antibodies, or HIV-1 antigen according to locally used diagnostic testing.
• History of multiple and/or severe allergies to drugs or foods or a history of severe anaphylactic reaction.
• Likelihood of requiring treatment during the study period with drugs not permitted by the clinical study protocol.
• Any medication (prescription and non-prescription drugs) within 14 days before first trial drug administration, with the exception of stable treatment with thyroid hormones, paracetamol for occasional use to treat pain, and if female, with the exception of hormonal contraception or menopausal hormone replacement therapy.
• Significant history of alcoholism or drug/chemical abuse as per Investigator's judgement or a positive result in the urine drug/alcohol screen at the screening visit or consuming more than 21 units of alcohol per week (1 unit of alcohol equals approximately 330 mL of beer, 1 glass of wine (120 mL), or 40 mL spirits).
• Smoker (defined as a subject who is smoking more than 5 cigarettes or the equivalent per day) who is not able or willing to refrain from smoking and use of nicotine substitute products 1 day before and during the inpatient period/trial.
• Subject with mental incapacity or language barriers precluding adequate understanding or cooperation or who, in the opinion of the Investigator or their general practitioner, should not participate in the trial.
• Potentially noncompliant or uncooperative during the trial, as judged by the Investigator.
• Female who is pregnant, breast feeding or intends to become pregnant or is of child-bearing potential and not using adequate contraceptive methods (adequate contraceptive measures are defined as surgical sterilisation, implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, hormonal intrauterine device, sexual abstinence, or vasectomised partner).