Dasiglucagon is a potential first-in-class glucagon analog invented and developed by Zealand. It has a unique stability profile in liquid formulation and is suitable for a ready-to-use rescue pen to treat severe hypoglycemia.
Phase 2 clinical results indicated that dasiglucagon rapidly increases plasma glucose (PG) levels after insulin-induced hypoglycemia, with a longer lasting and more pronounced PG increase with dasiglucagon compared to the active comparator, GlucaGen. This potentially leads to a favorable efficacy profile of preventing recurrent hypoglycemia. Post-dosing hypoglycemia events were rare, with only two events (within six hours) with dasiglucagon, compared to nine events with GlucaGen.
The aim of this first Phase 3 trial is to evaluate the immunogenicity of repeated single doses of dasiglucagon (0.6 mg) following subcutaneous administration to patients with type 1 diabetes, as well as effect, safety, tolerability. Dasiglucagon will be compared with GlucaGen®, a glucagon analog marketed in powder form for reconstitution.
The trial will be conducted over 15 weeks, during which 90 patients will be exposed to either dasiglucagon or GlucaGen® in a parallel randomized double-blind design. An additional Phase 3 trial is planned for initiation in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Britt Meelby Jensen, President and CEO of Zealand, comments: "The initiation of Phase 3 clinical development of dasiglucagon, a glucagon analog stable in liquid formulation, demonstrates Zealand's leadership and expertise in the development of peptide drugs. We are excited about bringing Zealand significantly closer to making the ready-to-use pen available to diabetes patients for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia.
"Millions of people with diabetes live with a daily fear of hypoglycemia, and a user-friendly solution to address severe hypoglycemia, or insulin shock, would be a significant help in living with diabetes."
Type 1 diabetes and hypoglycemia
People with type 1 diabetes suffer from insulin deficiency and inappropriate glucagon secretion – both hormones are essential to ensure stable and healthy blood glucose levels. Consequently, patients must monitor and adjust their blood sugar levels to remain in proper glycemic control, as both high and low blood glucose may affect their health, both in the short and long term.
Severe hypoglycemia is an acute, life-threatening condition resulting from a critical drop in blood sugar levels associated primarily with insulin therapy. Severe hypoglycemia is most frequently seen in people with type 1 diabetes, since they inject themselves with insulin multiple times a day.
Severe hypo-glycemic events occur when blood sugar levels become critically low and are still the biggest concern for insulin-dependent patients and the most feared complication of diabetes treatment. It is a condition characterized by confusion, seizures and, often, loss of consciousness which, if left untreated, can result in death.
Currently marketed formulations of glucagon for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia need to be mixed and used immediately, due to limited stability. Dasiglucagon is being developed to offer a ready-to-use rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia.
Zealand is developing dasiglucagon in multiple indications
In addition to the formulation of dasiglucagon being evaluated for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia, Zealand is developing another formulation for use in a future dual-hormone artificial pancreas, where it has potential to be the first glucagon analog for chronic use. This formulation is also being evaluated for use as a treatment of congenital hyperinsulinism, for which it has received an orphan drug designation in the European Union.