The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Eli Lilly’s once-weekly basal insulin, Owsnik (insulin efitoris alfa-gboc), for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. The new treatment, announced Thursday by the pharmaceutical company, offers an alternative to daily long-acting insulin injections by significantly reducing the frequency of doses.
Owsnik is designed to be used alongside diet and exercise to help control elevated blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Eli Lilly highlighted that the once-weekly dosing regimen could decrease the number of injections by more than 300 annually compared to traditional once-daily basal insulin therapies.
The drug will be available in the United States within the coming months in the form of a pre-filled KwikPen. It will be offered in two concentrations: 500 units per milliliter and 1,000 units per milliliter, providing flexibility for different patient needs.
This approval represents a potential advancement in diabetes management by simplifying treatment regimens and enhancing patient convenience, which may support better adherence and glycemic control for people managing type 2 diabetes.
