insulin degludec and liraglutide - Generic Medications

Insulin degludec Insulin degludec is a long-acting basal human insulin analog. Insulin degludec is produced by a process that includes expression of recombinant DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae followed by chemical modification. Insulin degludec differs from human insulin in that the amino acid threonine in position B30 has been omitted and a side-chain consisting of glutamic acid and a C16 fatty acid has been attached (chemical name: LysB29(Nε-hexadecandioyl-γ-Glu) des(B30) human insulin). Insulin degludec has a molecular formula of C 274 H 411 N 65 O 81 S 6 and a molecular weight of 6.104 kDa. It has the following structure: Figure 1. Structural Formula of Insulin degludec Liraglutide Liraglutide is an analog of human GLP-1 and acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The peptide precursor of liraglutide, produced by a process that includes expression of recombinant DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , has been engineered to be 97% homologous to native human GLP-1 by substituting arginine for lysine at position 34. Liraglutide is made by attaching a C16 fatty acid (palmitic acid) with a glutamic acid spacer on the remaining lysine residue at position 26 of the peptide precursor. The molecular formula of liraglutide is C 172 H 265 N 43 O 51 and the molecular weight is 3.751 kDa. It has the following structure: Figure 2. Structural Formula of Liraglutide XULTOPHY 100/3.6 (insulin degludec and liraglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use, is a combination of a long-acting basal human insulin analog, insulin degludec, and a GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide. XULTOPHY 100/3.6 is a sterile, aqueous, clear, and colorless solution. Each prefilled pen contains 3 mL equivalent to 300 units insulin degludec and 10.8 mg liraglutide. Each mL contains 100 units insulin degludec and 3.6 mg liraglutide. XULTOPHY 100/3.6 contains the following inactive ingredients per mL: glycerol (19.7 mg), phenol (5.7 mg), zinc (55 mcg), and Water for Injection, USP. XULTOPHY 100/3.6 has a pH of approximately 8.15. Hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide may be added to adjust pH. figure_1 figure_2