Clinical Pharmacology of Insulin Aspart Biosimilar GP40071: Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Comparability in Hyperinsulinemic Euglycemic Clamp Procedure

Insulin aspart is a short‐acting insulin analogue that is used to control postprandial glycemia levels in diabetic patients. The aim of this clinical trial was to compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of GP40071 (GP‐Asp) and NovoRapid Penfill (Novo‐Asp) in a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (HEC). This trial was conducted as a part of a GP40071 biosimilar clinical development program. This was a phase I randomized, double‐blind, two‐period crossover study. Twenty‐six healthy male volunteers aged 18 to 45 years who met the inclusion criteria underwent the procedure of an HEC following a single subcutaneous injection of 0.3 IU/kg of either GP‐Asp or Novo‐Asp into the abdomen. After doses, plasma glucose levels were monitored every 5 minutes for 8 hours. The adjustment of the glucose infusion rate (GIR) was based on the blood glucose measurements. The GIR values were used to evaluate the PD profiles of the studied drugs. Regular blood sampling was performed during the study to obtain sufficient pharmacokinetic data. The 90% confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of the pharmacokinetic (AUC(ins.0‐t), C(ins.max)) and pharmacodynamic (GIR(max), AUC(GIR0‐t)) parameters of GP‐Asp were within the 80%–125% comparability limits. The safety profiles of the drugs were also comparable. Bioequivalence, similar PD, and safety of GP‐Asp and Novo‐Asp were demonstrated.