Novo Nordisk has announced the global first launch of Kyinsu (insulin icodec + semaglutide), the first and only once-weekly fixed-ratio combination of basal insulin and a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). Approved for adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled on basal insulin or GLP-1 RA therapy, the injection combines icodec (the first once-weekly basal insulin) with semaglutide, the widely prescribed GLP-1 RA. Phase III COMBINE 1 data show that 72% of patients achieved HbA1c <7.0%, double the rate seen with basal insulin alone.

China is the first country to commercially launch the product, reflecting the strategic importance of the China co-development initiative. The pivotal trial marked the first time a Chinese principal investigator served as global lead for a Novo Nordisk multinational study. The weekly injection regimen addresses the burden of daily injections and helps mitigate concerns around hypoglycaemia and weight gain, aligning with the evolving standard of care in diabetes management.

PharmCube's NextBiopharm® database shows that the combination had no setbacks during the clinical development stage. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.