Novo Nordisk AS's Tresiba (insulin degludec) was shown to reduce the risk of severe hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes by 40% compared to the standard of care, Sanofi's Lantus (insulin glargine), in the DEVOTE cardiovascular outcomes trial – a significant achievement given the high prevalence of hypoglycemia and the severe threat it poses to this population.
DEVOTE also showed that Tresiba was non-inferior to Lantus on the primary endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but it's the hypoglycemia data that are likely to convince many physicians of the benefits of longer-acting insulins, although the effect on formulary positioning remains to be seen