Insulin Icodec: A Weekly Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin icodec-abae (Awiqli; Novo Nordisk), approved by the FDA on March 26, 2026, is the first and only once-weekly basal insulin that may decrease the daily burden on patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Clinical trial data demonstrated that insulin icodec provides glycemic control that is both noninferior and superior to once-daily basal insulin injections in patients with T2D. Clinical trials have also shown insulin icodec’s efficacy in patients with type 1 diabetes, but it is still not approved by the FDA for this patient population due to an increased risk of hypoglycemia. Pharmacists should understand insulin icodec’s mechanism of action, safety considerations, and emerging role in providing patients with T2D with a simplified insulin injection schedule.^1,2