Novo Nordisk's Awiqli®, the first once-weekly basal insulin for adults with type 2 diabetes, now available in the US

PLAINSBORO, N.J., Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk today announced the nationwide launch of Awiqli ® (insulin icodec-abae) injection 700 units/mL, the first once-weekly basal insulin approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control (blood sugar) in adults living with type 2 diabetes, 1 following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval earlier this year.

"Awiqli ® represents meaningful progress in the options available for basal insulin therapy for the millions of adults with type 2 diabetes" said Tom Scales, Senior Vice President of Market Access & Public Affairs and Patient Support Solutions at Novo Nordisk. "As the only once-weekly basal insulin available in the US, Awiqli ® reduces the frequency of daily basal injections from seven to one per week. Our focus is ensuring broad access so interested, eligible adults with type 2 diabetes have the support they need to talk to their doctor about starting Awiqli ®."

Clinical studies support simplifying treatment regimens for adults with type 2 diabetes. 2 Daily basal insulin routines can be challenging for some patients, and less frequent basal dosing support may help reduce this common barrier to basal insulin therapy. 2 By offering a once-weekly dosing profile delivered via the prefilled FlexTouch ® pen, Awiqli ® may help patients with a basal insulin routine that feels more manageable.

The FDA approval was based on results from the ONWARDS type 2 diabetes phase 3a program for once-weekly Awiqli ® injection which evaluated Awiqli ® administered once-weekly in adult patients with type 2 diabetes, used in combination with a mealtime insulin or in combination with common oral anti-diabetic agents and/or GLP-1 receptor agonist, in three randomized, open-label, treat-to-target, active-controlled trials and one randomized, double-blind, treat-to-target, active-controlled trial. The clinical program evaluated once-weekly Awiqli ® vs daily basal insulin and demonstrated efficacy in the primary endpoint of non-inferiority in mean change in HbA1c from baseline to trial end across the ONWARDS pivotal clinical trial program for adults with type 2 diabetes.

Across five ONWARDS trials, the safety profile of Awiqli ® was overall consistent with the daily basal insulin class used in each trial. 3-6 Common adverse events include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), serious allergic reactions (whole body reactions), reactions at the injection site, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), itching, rash, swelling of your hands and feet, and weight gain. 1

Awiqli ® is now accessible to the millions of adults with type 2 diabetes who may benefit from it, and appropriate patients can access it at retail pharmacies nationwide. In addition, to support adults with type 2 diabetes, Novo Nordisk offers a Patient Education Center through NovoCare.com which includes patient educational resources and tools, healthy recipes, and affordability offerings for eligible patients to help lower out-of-pocket costs to as little as $35 per month for those who qualify.

For more information on Awiqli ®, clinical trial data, and prescribing information, please visit Awiqli.com.

About Awiqli ®

Awiqli ® (insulin icodec-abae) injection 700 units/mL is a prescription medicine and is the first and only FDA-approved once-weekly basal insulin indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. 1 Awiqli ® is designed as an alternative to daily basal insulin and its approval is supported by the ONWARDS clinical program, which evaluated its efficacy and safety across diverse adult populations living with type 2 diabetes. 3-6 Awiqli ® is administered once-weekly on the same day each week using the Awiqli ® FlexTouch ® pen. 1

Awiqli ® is approved in the US, EU, and 13 additional countries, with market-specific indications for diabetes.

What is Awiqli ® (insulin icodec-abae) injection 700 units/mL?

Important Safety Information

Do not share your Awiqli ® FlexTouch ® pen or needles with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.

Make sure you use the right type and dose of insulin. Always check the label on your insulin pen before each injection to avoid mix-ups with Awiqli ® and other insulin products or injectable medicines used to treat diabetes. If you use another injectable medicine to treat your diabetes, pay close attention to how you select your Awiqli ® dosage. The dosage of Awiqli ® is different from other injectable medicines used to treat diabetes.

Always make sure that you select the correct dosage of your Awiqli ® FlexTouch ® pen as prescribed by your healthcare provider, to avoid dosing errors and accidental overdose. People who are blind or have vision problems should not use this pen without help from a person trained to use the pen.

Do not dial the maximum single dosage (700 units) of your Awiqli ® FlexTouch ® pen, unless prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Do not use a syringe to withdraw Awiqli ® from your pen.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to correctly dose Awiqli ® FlexTouch ®.

Who should not take Awiqli ®?

Do not take Awiqli ® if you:

Before taking Awiqli ®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you are:

Talk to your health care provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.

How should I take Awiqli ® FlexTouch ®?

What should I avoid while taking Awiqli ®?

What are the possible side effects of Awiqli ®?

Awiqli ® may cause serious side effects that can be life-threatening, including:

Your insulin dose may need to change because of change in level of physical activity or exercise, increased stress, change in diet, weight gain or loss, or illness

Common side effects may include: hypoglycemia, serious allergic reactions (whole body reactions), reactions at the injection site, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), itching, rash, swelling of your hands and feet, and weight gain.

Get emergency medical help if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion

These are not all the possible side effects of Awiqli ®. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Please click here for the full Prescribing Information.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company that's been making innovative medicines to help people with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives for more than 100 years. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to drive change to help people defeat other serious chronic diseases such as obesity, rare blood, and endocrine disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for lasting success is to stay focused, think long-term, and do business in a financially, socially, and environmentally responsible way. With a US presence spanning 40 years, Novo Nordisk US is headquartered in New Jersey and employs approximately 10,000 people throughout the country across more than 10 manufacturing, R&D and corporate locations in seven states plus Washington DC. For more information, visit  novonordisk-us.com,  Facebook,  Instagram, and  X.

Contacts for further information

Novo Nordisk Media:

Ambre James-Brown

+45 3079 9289

[email protected]

Liz Skrbkova (US)

+1 609 917 0632

[email protected]

Novo Nordisk Investors:

Michael Novod

+45 3075 6050

[email protected]

Sina Meyer

+45 3079 6656

[email protected]

Max Ung

+45 3077 6414

[email protected]

Christoffer Togo Solgaard-Tullin

+45 3079 1471

[email protected]

Alex Bruce

+45 3444 2613

[email protected]

Mads Berner Bruun

+45 3075 2936

[email protected]

Ida Schaap Melvold

+45 3077 5649

[email protected]

Frederik Taylor Pitter (US)

+1 609 613 0568

[email protected]

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References

Awiqli ® and FlexTouch ® Pen are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S.

Novo Nordisk is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk