MedPath

Insulin aspart

Generic Name
Insulin aspart
Brand Names
Fiasp, Novolog, Novolog Mix, Novomix, Novorapid, Novorapid Penfill, Ryzodeg, Truvelog Mix 30, Kirsty (previously Kixelle), NovoRapid, Insulin aspart Sanofi, NovoMix
Drug Type
Biotech
CAS Number
116094-23-6
Unique Ingredient Identifier
D933668QVX

Overview

Insulin aspart is a rapid-acting form of insulin used for the treatment of hyperglycemia caused by Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Insulin is typically prescribed for the management of diabetes mellitus to mimic the activity of endogenously produced human insulin, a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreas that promotes glucose metabolism. Insulin is released from the pancreas following a meal to promote the uptake of glucose from the blood into internal organs and tissues such as the liver, fat cells, and skeletal muscle. Absorption of glucose into cells allows for its transformation into glycogen or fat for storage. Insulin also inhibits hepatic glucose production, enhances protein synthesis, and inhibits lipolysis and proteolysis among many other functions. Insulin is an important treatment in the management of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) which is caused by an autoimmune reaction that destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, resulting in the body not being able to produce or synthesize the insulin needed to manage circulating blood sugar levels. As a result, people with T1D rely primarily on exogenous forms of insulin, such as insulin aspart, to lower glucose levels in the blood. Insulin is also used in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), another form of diabetes mellitus that is a slowly progressing metabolic disorder caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors that promote chronically elevated blood sugar levels. Without treatment or improvement in non-pharmacological measures such as diet and exercise to lower blood glucose, high blood sugar eventually causes cellular resistance to endogenous insulin, and in the long term, damage to pancreatic islet cells. Insulin is typically prescribed later in the course of T2D, after trying several oral medications such as Metformin, Gliclazide, or Sitagliptin have been tried, when sufficient damage has been caused to pancreatic cells that the body is no longer able to produce insulin on its own. Marketed as the brand name product NovoRapid, insulin aspart begins to exert its effects within 15 minutes of subcutaneous administration, while peak levels occur 30 to 90 minutes after administration. Due to its duration of action of around 5 hours, NovoRapid is considered "bolus insulin" as it provides high levels of insulin in a short period of time to mimic the release of endogenous insulin from the pancreas after meals. Bolus insulin is often combined with once daily, long-acting "basal insulin" such as Insulin detemir, Insulin degludec, and Insulin glargine to provide low concentrations of background insulin that can keep blood sugar stable between meals or overnight. Use of basal and bolus insulin together is intended to mimic the pancreas' production of endogenous insulin, with a goal of avoiding any periods of hypoglycemia. Insulin aspart is a recombinant, biosynthetic, fast-acting insulin analogue. Compared to human insulin, it has a single amino acid substitution at position B28 where proline is replaced with aspartic acid. This substitution decreases its propensity to form hexamers and gives it a higher rate of absorption following subcutaneous administration compared to native insulin. Insulin aspart is produced in a genetically modified strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) Without an adequate supply of insulin to promote absorption of glucose from the bloodstream, blood sugar levels can climb to dangerously high levels and can result in symptoms such as fatigue, headache, blurred vision, and increased thirst. If left untreated, the body starts to break down fat, instead of glucose, for energy which results in a build-up of ketone acids in the blood and a syndrome called ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening medical emergency. In the long term, elevated blood sugar levels increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetic neuropathy.

Indication

Insulin aspart is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

Associated Conditions

  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis
  • Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
  • Hyperglycemia during critical illness

Research Report

Published: Jul 10, 2025

An In-Depth Monograph on Insulin Aspart (DB01306): From Molecular Engineering to Clinical Practice

Executive Summary

Insulin aspart (DrugBank ID: DB01306) represents a cornerstone therapy in the management of diabetes mellitus. As a rapid-acting, recombinant human insulin analog, its development marked a significant milestone in biotechnology and rational drug design. The therapeutic innovation of insulin aspart is rooted in a single, targeted amino acid substitution—the replacement of proline with aspartic acid at position B28 of the insulin B-chain. This seemingly minor modification profoundly alters the molecule's physicochemical properties, reducing its propensity to form hexamers and enabling significantly faster absorption from subcutaneous tissue compared to regular human insulin. This accelerated pharmacokinetic profile translates directly into a more physiological pharmacodynamic response, allowing for effective control of postprandial glucose excursions when administered immediately before meals.

Clinically, insulin aspart is indicated for improving glycemic control in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults and children. It is administered via subcutaneous injection, continuous subcutaneous infusion via an insulin pump, or intravenously in supervised clinical settings. Its efficacy is well-established, though its primary advantage, particularly in Type 2 diabetes, often lies in the enhanced convenience and quality of life it offers patients over older insulins. The safety profile is well-characterized and dominated by the risk of hypoglycemia, a direct extension of its glucose-lowering pharmacology.

Continue reading the full research report

Clinical Trials

View More Clinical Trials

Sign in to access the complete clinical trial database with detailed study information.

Title
Posted
Study ID
Phase
Status
Sponsor
2013/05/09
Phase 3
Completed
2013/05/08
Phase 4
Completed
2013/04/19
Phase 3
Completed
2013/04/15
Phase 3
Completed
2013/03/27
Phase 3
Completed
2013/03/19
Phase 3
Completed
2013/01/23
Phase 1
Completed
2012/10/24
Phase 3
Completed
2012/10/16
Phase 1
Completed
2012/10/16
Phase 3
Completed

FDA Drug Approvals

View More FDA Approvals

Sign in to access additional FDA-approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Manufacturer
NDC Code
Route
Strength
Effective Date
No FDA approvals found for this drug.

EMA Drug Approvals

View More EMA Approvals

Sign in to access additional EMA-approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Authorization Holder
Status
Issued Date
No EMA approvals found for this drug.

HSA Drug Approvals

View More HSA Approvals

Sign in to access additional HSA-approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Manufacturer
Approval Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No HSA approvals found for this drug.

NMPA Drug Approvals

View More NMPA Approvals

Sign in to access additional NMPA-approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Company
Approval Number
Drug Type
Dosage Form
Approval Date
No NMPA approvals found for this drug.

PPB Drug Approvals

View More PPB Approvals

Sign in to access additional PPB-approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Registration No.
Company
Licence No.
Strength
Registration Date
No PPB approvals found for this drug.

TGA Drug Approvals

View More TGA Approvals

Sign in to access additional TGA-approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
ARTG ID
Sponsor
Registration Type
Status
Registration Date
No TGA approvals found for this drug.

Health Canada Drug Approvals

View More Health Canada Approvals

Sign in to access additional Health Canada approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Company
DIN
Dosage Form
Strength
Market Date
No Health Canada approvals found for this drug.

CIMA AEMPS Drug Approvals

View More CIMA AEMPS Approvals

Sign in to access additional CIMA AEMPS approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Company
Registration Number
Pharmaceutical Form
Prescription Type
Status
No CIMA AEMPS (Spain) approvals found for this drug.

Philippines FDA Drug Approvals

View More Philippines FDA Approvals

Sign in to access additional Philippines FDA approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Company
License Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Philippines FDA approvals found for this drug.

Saudi SFDA Drug Approvals

View More Saudi SFDA Approvals

Sign in to access additional Saudi SFDA approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Company
License Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Saudi SFDA approvals found for this drug.

Malaysia NPRA Drug Approvals

View More Malaysia NPRA Approvals

Sign in to access additional Malaysia NPRA approved drug information with detailed regulatory data.

Approved Product
Company
Registration Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Malaysia NPRA approvals found for this drug.

UK EMC Drug Information

View More UK EMC Drug Information

Sign in to access additional UK EMC drug information with detailed pharmaceutical data.

Medicine Name
MA Holder
MA Number
Pharmaceutical Form
Active Ingredient
Authorization Date
No UK EMC drug information found for this drug.

Help Us Improve

Your feedback helps us provide better drug information and insights.

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.