Lilly Discontinues Development of Liver-Selective Basal Insulin Peglispro
In unfortunate but largely expected news, Lilly has discontinued the development of its new basal insulin, Peglispro. The decision stemmed in part from liver safety issues with the drug that emerged in the phase 3 results (released in late 2014).
There had originally been high hopes for peglispro because of its “liver-selective” mechanism – it works primarily in the liver to take up glucose, which more closely mimics the way natural insulin works in the body in people without diabetes. In clinical trials, peglispro also lead to superior A1c reductions, nighttime hypoglycemia reductions, and weight loss advantages over Sanofi’s basal insulin Lantus. Despite these benefits, the safety issues would have likely made FDA approval a long shot, especially because 2015 saw the approval of two new-and-improved basal insulins (Sanofi’s Toujeo and Novo Nordisk’s Tresiba).