Dasiglucagon: A Novel Ready-to-Use Treatment for Severe Hypoglycemia

Abstract

Objective: To review dasiglucagon, a novel glucagon analogue approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of severe hypoglycemia in 2021. Data Sources: A literature search using the PubMed database (current to March 2022) and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted using the search term dasiglucagon. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Relevant clinical data from English-language clinical trials were included. Data Synthesis: Dasiglucagon was studied in 3 clinical trials: 1 in patients aged 6 to 17 years and 2 in adults. In all 3 trials, dasiglucagon was found to provide clinically significant benefit in minutes to plasma glucose recovery compared with placebo (10 vs 40, P < 0.001; 10 vs 30, P < 0.001; 10 vs 35, P < 0.0001). Dasiglucagon was also comparable with reconstituted glucagon in plasma glucose recovery time measured from time of administration. The most common adverse events with dasiglucagon were nausea, vomiting, and headache; no serious safety events were observed. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Dasiglucagon is a novel glucagon analogue that is safe and effective for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia, and it is the first to be stable in aqueous solution. This makes dasiglucagon one of only 3 currently available glucagon treatment options that does not require reconstitution prior to administration. Conclusions: Dasiglucagon offers safe and effective treatment for severe hypoglycemia in patients aged 6 years and older. The stability of dasiglucagon in aqueous solution provides an additional option for emergency glucagon treatment that does not require reconstitution prior to administration.