Nasal Glucagon as a Viable Alternative to Treat Insulin-induced Hypoglycemia in Japanese Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: A Phase 3 Randomized Crossover Study.

Aim To compare nasal glucagon (NG) with intramuscular glucagon (IMG) for the treatment of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in Japanese patients with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and methods This phase 3, randomized, open-label, two-treatment, two-period crossover non-inferiority study enrolled Japanese adults with T1DM or T2DM on insulin therapy, with glycated haemoglobin levels <= 86 mmol/mol (<= 10%). After >= 8 hours of fasting, hypoglycaemia was induced with human regular insulin (intravenous infusion). Patients received NG 3 mg or IMG 1 mg approximately 5 minutes after insulin termination. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving treatment success [plasma glucose (PG) increase to >= 3.9 mmol/L (>= 70 mg/dL) or >= 1.1 mmol/L (>= 20 mg/dL) increase from the PG nadir within 30 minutes of receiving glucagon]. Non-inferiority was declared if the upper limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) of the mean difference in the percentage of patients achieving treatment success (IMG minus NG) was Seventy-five patients with T1DM (n = 34) or T2DM (n = 41) were enrolled; 72 patients (50 men, 22 women) received >= 1 study drug dose (T1DM, n = 33; T2DM, n = 39). Sixty-eight patients completed the study and were evaluable. All NG- and IMG-treated patients achieved treatment success (treatment arm difference: 0%; upper limit of two-sided 95% CI 1.47%); NG met prespecified conditions defining non-inferiority versus IMG. Glucagon was rapidly absorbed after both nasal and intramuscular administration; PG profiles were similar between administration routes during the first 60 minutes post dose. Study drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events affecting >2 patients were rhinalgia, increased blood pressure, nausea, ear pain and vomiting in the NG group, and nausea and vomiting in the IMG group. Conclusion Nasal glucagon was non-inferior to IMG for successful treatment of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in Japanese patients with T1DM/T2DM, supporting use of NG as a rescue treatment for severe hypoglycaemia.