Resumo

LICEA PUIG, Manuel E.. Insulin analogues. Rev Cubana Endocrinol [online]. 2006, vol.17, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2953.

Considerable efforts have been made to develop the ideal insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). The recombinant technology of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has allowed the development of human insulin; however, this has not totally solved the problems related to immunogenecity, among other problems. Therefore, the new technologies are applied to create insulin analogues. It is our purpose to review relevant pharmacological and clinical aspects related to the insulin analogues, as well as their usefulness in the treatment of DM. The insulin analogues result from biochemical modifications of human insulin. These modifications of the insulin molecule alter not only the absorption, but also the beginning and duration of the action, which offer advantages over the conventional insulins. At present, there are three rapid acting insulin analogues: insulin lispro, insulin aspart and glulisine; and three long acting analogues; glargine, detemir and albulin. Albulin is the latest long acting analogue reported. At present, it is being subjected to various in vitro and in vivo studies. Besides, there have been developed diverse formulations where the rapid acting insulin analogues are premixed with the long acting analogues. The rapid acting insulin analogues have showed a modest global benefit against the conventional insulins in type 1 diabetics. The long acting analogues focus their attention in those persons with DM with nocturnal hypoglycemic episodes. Longer term studies are necessary to confirm the safety and benefits of these preparations, as well as to determine their effect on the micro- and macroangiopathic complications of DM.

Palavras-chave : insulin analogues; insulin lispro; insulin aspart; glulisine; insulin glargine; insulin detemir; insulin albulin; diabetes mellitus.