12 KIT
Fast help injection
Ogluo is the first pre-filled glucagon injection pen,
now available in the UK for the treatment of severe
hypoglycaemia.
Tetris Pharma has brought Ogluo, a glucagon prefilled
injection pen to the UK. It's the first readyto-use, pre-mixed
and pre-measured liquid
glucagon injection for the treatment of severe
hypoglycaemia in adults, adolescents, and children aged
two years and over.
In the UK, approximately five million people are
living with diabetes and are at risk of hypoglycaemia,
a common side effect of insulin use. Hypoglycaemia is
responsible for an estimated 70,000-100,000 emergency
callouts in the UK. Severe hypoglycaemia occurs when
blood glucose levels drop below 4mmol/L and is defined
as requiring assistance from another person to treat
it.4 Severe hypoglycaemia has an annual prevalence of
30-40% among people living with Type 1 diabetes and is
the second most common cause of hospital admissions
for drug-related adverse events.
Severe hypoglycaemia is currently treated with a
glucagon treatment requiring eight stages to prepare and
inject. In a simulated human factor study of 16 individuals
-both trained and untrained - only 31% of participants
were successfully able to administer the glucagon
solution. Ineffective treatment of hypoglycaemic
episodes can substantially increase overall direct, and
indirect, healthcare costs due to the person possibly
needing emergency support and hospitalisation.
Best avoided
Costs aside, bad hypos are also a dreadful experience
for the person who has one. With luck, you will get signs
that your glucose levels are dropping. With luck, you
may have a CGM or flash sensor that can alert you when
levels go low. Sometimes people around you can tell that
something's going on. Bad hypos need intervention -
juice, jelly babies, a slice of bread, a spoonful of honey or
whatever is to hand. But when you are so low that you are
either shaking so hard you can't swallow, or you even are
losing consciousness.
Ogluo, unlike current glucagon emergency kits, is a
reliable two-step administration of glucagon through a
pre-filled pen in case of a severe hypoglycaemic episode.
In a study, 99% of participants were successfully able
to administer it. To help ensure the right dose, two
pre-measured dosing options for adults and children
are available. Sub-cutaneous (sub-cut) glucagon has an
established safety profile, with Ogluo being stable at
room temperature, portable, ready-to-use with no visible
needle, and can be stored for up to 27 months for the 1mg
dose, and 24 months for the 0.5m dose.
Dr Shafiq Choudhary, CEO of Tetris, explains, "We are
delighted that Ogluo is now available for prescription in
the UK. The innovative new formulation of the glucagon
solution is designed to be a very user-friendly treatment
to tackle severe episodes of hypoglycaemia. Ogluo has
the potential to improve diabetes self-care and empower
people with diabetes and carers to manage challenging
episodes with confidence, hopefully also lessening the
significant psychological burden."
Dr Patrick English, Consultant in Diabetes, at Derriford
Hospital, Plymouth says, "Many people with Type 1
diabetes live in fear of severe hypos. These episodes
can be frightening for the person with diabetes, as well
as for family, friends and carers who don't always know
what to do or how to help. Currently, the administration
of glucagon to treat such an episode, when someone is
unconscious or unable to take glucose orally, requires
a number of steps to mix the glucagon powder and
liquid prior to administration. This is often not done
successfully under pressure, which may delay recovery.
Providing glucagon as a liquid in a new, easy-to-use auto
injection device could make this process far simpler and
mean greater freedom and security for people living with
diabetes and their families, friends and carers."
Dr Fiona Campbell, Consultant in Children and Young
People's Diabetes, agrees adding, "This is particularly the
case for children and young people, and their families."
Ogluo is a prescription-only medicine. It comes in two
pre-measured doses: Ogluo paediatric dose of 0.5mg, PIP
code 4197232; Ogluo adult dose 1.0mg PIP code 4197240.