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human insulin
Human insulin binds to insulin receptors on cells to promote glucose uptake and utilization, lowering blood glucose levels.
Human insulin binds to insulin receptors on cells to promote glucose uptake and utilization, lowering blood glucose levels. Used for Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (when oral agents or other therapies are insufficient).
At a glance
| Generic name | human insulin |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Actrapid®, Novolin® R, Oral Insulin, Regular insulin and NPH insulin, NPH and regular |
| Sponsor | Novo Nordisk A/S |
| Drug class | Insulin |
| Target | Insulin receptor (IR) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Diabetes |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Human insulin is a recombinant peptide hormone that mimics endogenous insulin secreted by pancreatic beta cells. It binds to insulin receptors on muscle, fat, and liver cells, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that increase glucose transport into cells and promote glycogen synthesis while inhibiting gluconeogenesis. This restores glucose homeostasis in patients with insufficient endogenous insulin production or insulin resistance.
Approved indications
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (when oral agents or other therapies are insufficient)
Common side effects
- Hypoglycemia
- Weight gain
- Injection site reactions
- Lipodystrophy
Key clinical trials
- Text Message for Adolescents With Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes (NA)
- Epigenetic Regulation of Human Adipose Tissue Distribution (NA)
- Sleep Loss and Circadian Misalignment - Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance (PHASE4)
- Trial of the Combination of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Mirabegron in Women and in Men With Obesity (PHASE2)
- Risk Assessment of Pancreatic Islet Autoimmunity in Patients With AITD
- Assessments of Adipogenesis, Lipid Turnover and Cellular Composition in Adipose Tissue in Response to Endurance Exercise (NA)
- Critical Food Ingredients on Immunocompetence to Prevent the Risk and Development of Obesity/Metabolic Syndrome (NA)
- Effect of Tirzepatide and Bimagrumab on Body Composition, Insulin Sensitivity, and Bone in Adults With Obesity (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- human insulin CI brief — competitive landscape report
- human insulin updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Novo Nordisk A/S portfolio CI