Objectives: To confirm the efficacy and safety of fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) versus insulin aspart (IAsp) in a paediatric sample with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Methods: A treat-to-target, 26-week, multicentre trial randomised participants (1 to <18 years old) following a 12-week run-in period to double-blind mealtime faster aspart (n=260) or IAsp (n=258), or open-label post-meal faster aspart (n=259), each with daily insulin degludec treatment (NCT02670915). All available information regardless of treatment discontinuation was used for evaluation.
Results: At week 26, non-inferiority (0.4% margin) for the primary endpoint, change from baseline in HbA1c, was confirmed for mealtime and post-meal faster aspart versus IAsp, with a statistically significant difference in favour of mealtime faster aspart (estimated treatment difference [95% CI]: –0.17% [–0.30;–0.03]; –1.82 mmol/mol [–3.28;–0.36]). Change from baseline in 1-hour postprandial glucose significantly favoured mealtime faster aspart versus IAsp at breakfast, lunch and mean over all meals (Figure). No significant differences in overall rate of treatment-emergent severe or blood glucose (BG)-confirmed hypoglycaemic episodes (BG <3.1 mmol/L [56 mg/dL]) were observed. Mean total daily insulin dose on treatment was 0.92 U/kg (mealtime faster aspart), 0.92 U/kg (post-meal faster aspart) and 0.88 U/kg (IAsp).
Conclusion: Mealtime and post-meal faster aspart with insulin degludec provided effective glycaemic control (superior for mealtime faster aspart) versus IAsp, with no additional safety risks in children and adolescents with T1D.