Insulin degludec Research Reference

Catalog classification, reference sizes, lab math links, and source-backed data. Educational use only — not medical advice.

Researched for: PepTools vendor-neutral scientific reference catalog

Long-acting recombinant human insulin analog compound Reference needs_revision Best effort · source review pending

Also known as: Degludec, NN1250, NN-1250, DA-74494, Tresiba

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Best-effort research profile: this record has not passed full two-source scientific verification. Descriptive fields, research protocols, storage/handling notes, and interaction guidance below are shown with their evidence labels, but calculator presets and exact dosing math remain hidden until the record is verified or reaches Community-Supported status.

Quick Facts

Reference Sizes

100 units/mL (U-100), 200 units/mL (U-200)

Storage

Unused product: refrigerate at 2–8 °C and protect from light; do not freeze or place directly adjacent to the cooling element. The FDA label specifies presentation-specific in-use storage conditions, including a 56-day period for the listed U-100 and U-200 presentations.

Solubility

Supplied as a clear, colorless aqueous injectable solution. No reliable intrinsic-solubility value was identified in the authoritative sources reviewed.

Best-Effort Research Profile

Insulin degludec is a recombinant long-acting human insulin analog. Compared with human insulin, threonine at position B30 is omitted and a glutamic-acid-linked C16 fatty-acid side chain is attached to LysB29. After subcutaneous administration, the modified insulin forms a depot of multi-hexamers, from which insulin monomers are gradually released into the circulation. It is supplied as clear, colorless solutions at 100 units/mL and 200 units/mL.

Source review pending. This descriptive profile is shown from the available source material as a best-effort educational reference. It has not passed the full verification bar and is not a dosing instruction, medical claim, or treatment recommendation.

Research Profile

Half-Life

Approximately 25 hours at steady state; clinical pharmacology studies report values greater than 25 hours depending on study population and conditions.

Onset

Median onset of appearance in circulation approximately 1 hour after the first subcutaneous dose; this is an absorption measure rather than a complete measure of glucose-lowering effect.

Administration Routes (Research)

Subcutaneous

Reported Research Effects

Glucose-lowering insulin receptor agonism
Basal insulin activity with a relatively flat pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile
Slow, continuous systemic release from a subcutaneous multi-hexamer depot

Reflects preclinical/research literature context only. Not a medical claim, dosing instruction, or treatment recommendation.

Research Notes

Insulin degludec is a peptide biologic rather than a small molecule. Its prolonged action is attributed primarily to delayed absorption from the subcutaneous multi-hexamer depot, with additional contribution from reversible albumin binding. FDA labeling describes subcutaneous administration only and states that the product should not be administered intravenously or by insulin infusion pump. Evidence-backed clinical pharmacology studies have evaluated doses including 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 units/kg under euglycemic-clamp conditions; these are study regimens and are not individualized dosing recommendations.

Supplementary research context only. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.

Registry Identifiers

CAS RN 844439-96-9; PubChem CID 118984462; molecular formula C274H411N65O81S6; molecular weight 6.104 kDa; DrugBank ID DB09564; ATC code A10AE06

Source-Backed Observations

The U-100 and U-200 formulations provide comparable exposure and glucose-lowering effect when administered at the same unit-per-kilogram dose. FDA labeling reports median onset of appearance of approximately 1 hour after the first subcutaneous dose and median maximum concentration at approximately 9 hours after repeated once-daily dosing in adults with type 1 diabetes. Steady-state concentrations are reached after approximately 3–4 days of administration.

Reflects published research. Educational reference — not a recommendation for use.

Sources Under Review

Insulin Degludec / Tresiba Prescribing Information
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/203314s018s020lbl.pdf (accessed 2026-10-16)

Insulin Degludec
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Insulin-degludec (accessed 2026-10-16)

Tresiba: EPAR - Product Information
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/tresiba (accessed 2026-10-16)

Comparison of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of insulin degludec and insulin glargine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26086190/ (accessed 2026-10-16)

Ultra-long-acting insulin degludec has a flat and stable glucose-lowering effect in type 2 diabetes
https://dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1463-1326.2012.01638.x (accessed 2026-10-16)

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Research Use Only. All content is for educational and research reference only. Not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or guidance on human use. Compounds are not FDA-approved drugs unless specifically noted.