A specific overdose for insulin cannot be defined, however, hypoglycaemia may develop over sequential stages if too high doses relative to the patient's requirement are administered:
- Mild hypoglycaemic episodes can be treated by oral administration of glucose or sugary products. It is therefore recommended that the diabetic patient always carries sugar-containing products.
- Severe hypoglycaemic episodes, where the patient has become unconscious, can be treated with glucagon (0.5 to 1 mg) given intramuscularly or subcutaneously by a trained person, or with glucose given intravenously by a healthcare professional. Glucose must be given intravenously, if the patient does not respond to glucagon within 10 to 15 minutes. Upon regaining consciousness, administration of oral carbohydrates is recommended for the patient in order to prevent a relapse.
In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.
Summary of the safety profile
Adverse reactions observed in patients using NovoMix 50 Penfill are mainly due to the pharmacological effect of insulin aspart.
The most frequently reported adverse reaction during treatment is hypoglycaemia. The frequencies of hypoglycaemia vary with patient population, dose regimens and level of glycaemic control, please see Description of selected adverse reactions below.
At the beginning of the insulin treatment, refraction anomalies, oedema and injection site reactions (pain, redness, hives, inflammation, bruising, swelling and itching at the injection site) may occur. These reactions are usually of a transitory nature. Fast improvement in blood glucose control may be associated with acute painful neuropathy, which is usually reversible. Intensification of insulin therapy with abrupt improvement in glycaemic control may be associated with temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy, while long-term improved glycaemic control decreases the risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions
The adverse reactions listed below are based on clinical trial data and classified according to MedDRA frequency and System Organ Class. Frequency categories are defined according to the following convention: Very common (>1/10); common (>1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
| Immune system disorders | Uncommon - Urticaria, rash, eruptions |
| Very rare - Anaphylactic reactions* | |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | Very common - Hypoglycaemia* |
| Nervous system disorders | Rare - Peripheral neuropathy (painful neuropathy) |
| Eye disorders | Uncommon - Refraction disorders |
| Uncommon - Diabetic retinopathy | |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Uncommon - Lipodystrophy* |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | Uncommon - Oedema |
| Uncommon - Injection site reactions |
* see Description of selected adverse reactions
Description of selected adverse reactions
Anaphylactic reactions:
The occurrence of generalised hypersensitivity reactions (including generalised skin rash, itching, sweating, gastrointestinal upset, angioneurotic oedema, difficulties in breathing, palpitation and reduction in blood pressure) is very rare but can potentially be life-threatening.
Hypoglycaemia:
The most frequently reported adverse reaction is hypoglycaemia. It may occur if the insulin dose is too high in relation to the insulin requirement. Severe hypoglycaemia may lead to unconsciousness and/or convulsions and may result in temporary or permanent impairment of brain function or even death. The symptoms of hypoglycaemia usually occur suddenly. They may include cold sweats, cool pale skin, fatigue, nervousness or tremor, anxiousness, unusual tiredness or weakness, confusion, difficulty in concentrating, drowsiness, excessive hunger, vision changes, headache, nausea and palpitation.
In clinical trials, the frequency of hypoglycaemia varied with patient population, dose regimens and level of glycaemic control. During clinical trials, the overall rates of hypoglycaemia did not differ between patients treated with insulin aspart compared to human insulin.
Lipodystrophy:
Lipodystrophy (including lipohypertrophy, lipoatrophy) may occur at the injection site. Continuous rotation of the injection site within the particular area reduces the risk of developing these reactions.
Paediatric population
Based on post-marketing sources and clinical trials, the frequency, type and severity of adverse reactions observed in the paediatric population do not indicate any differences to the broader experience in the general population.
Other special populations
Based on post-marketing sources and clinical trials, the frequency, type and severity of adverse reactions observed in elderly patients and in patients with renal or hepatic impairment do not indicate any differences to the broader experience in the general population.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via
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Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity and toxicity to reproduction and development.
In in vitro tests, including binding to insulin and IGF-1 receptor sites and effects on cell growth, insulin aspart behaved in a manner that closely resembled human insulin. Studies also demonstrate that the dissociation of binding to the insulin receptor of insulin aspart is equivalent to human insulin.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is indicated for treatment of diabetes mellitus in adults, adolescents and children aged 10 years and above.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Drugs used in diabetes. Insulins and analogues for injection, intermediate- or long-acting combined with fast-acting. ATC code: A10AD05.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is a biphasic suspension of 30% soluble insulin aspart (rapid-acting human insulin analogue) and 70% protamine-crystallised insulin aspart (intermediate-acting human insulin analogue).
Mechanism of action and pharmacodynamic effects
The blood glucose lowering effect of insulin aspart is due to the facilitated uptake of glucose following binding of insulin to receptors on muscle and fat cells and to the simultaneous inhibition of glucose output from the liver.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is a biphasic insulin, which contains 30% soluble insulin aspart. This has a rapid onset of action, thus allowing it to be given closer to a meal (within zero to 10 minutes of the meal) when compared to soluble human insulin. The crystalline phase (70%) consists of protamine-crystallised insulin aspart, which has an activity profile similar to that of human NPH insulin.
When NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is injected subcutaneously, the onset of action will occur within 10 to 20 minutes of injection. The maximum effect is exerted between 1 and 4 hours after injection. The duration of action is up to 24 hours (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Activity profile of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 (___) and biphasic human insulin 30 (---) in healthy subjects.
Clinical efficacy and safety
In a 3 month trial in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 showed equal control of glycosylated haemoglobin compared to treatment with biphasic human insulin 30. Insulin aspart is equipotent to human insulin on a molar basis. Compared to biphasic human insulin 30, administration of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 before breakfast and dinner resulted in lower postprandial blood glucose after both meals (breakfast and dinner).
A meta-analysis including nine trials in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes showed that fasting blood glucose was higher in patients treated with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30, than in patients treated with biphasic human insulin 30.
In one study, 341 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomised to treatment with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 either alone or in combination with metformin, or to metformin together with sulfonylurea. The primary efficacy variable - HbA1c after 16 weeks of treatment - did not differ between patients with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 combined with metformin and patients with metformin plus sulfonylurea. In this trial, 57% of the patients had baseline HbA1c above 9%; in these patients, treatment with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 in combination with metformin resulted in significantly lower HbA1c than metformin in combination with sulfonylurea.
In one study, patients with type 2 diabetes, insufficiently controlled on oral hypoglycaemic agents alone, were randomised to treatment with twice daily NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 (117 patients) or once daily insulin glargine (116 patients).1c was 2.8% with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 (mean at baseline = 9.7%). With NovoMix 50 Penfill 30, 66% and 42% of the patients reached HbA1c levels below 7% and 6.5%, respectively, and mean FPG was reduced by about 7 mmol/l (from 14.0 mmol/l at baseline to 7.1 mmol/l).
In patients with type 2 diabetes, a meta-analysis showed a reduced risk of overall nocturnal hypoglycaemic episodes and major hypoglycaemia with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 compared to biphasic human insulin 30. The risk of overall daytime hypoglycaemic episodes was increased in patients treated with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30.
Paediatric population
A 16-week clinical trial comparing postprandial glycaemic control of meal-related NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 with meal-related human insulin/biphasic human insulin 30 and bedtime NPH insulin was performed in 167 patients aged 10 to 18 years. Mean HbA1c remained similar to baseline throughout the trial in both treatment groups, and there was no difference in hypoglycaemia rate with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 or biphasic human insulin 30.
In a smaller (54 patients) and younger (age range 6 to 12 years) population, treated in a double-blind, cross-over trial (12 weeks on each treatment), the rate of hypoglycaemic episodes and the postprandial glucose increase were significantly lower with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 compared to biphasic human insulin 30. Final HbA1c was significantly lower in the biphasic human insulin 30 treated group compared with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30.
Absorption, distribution and elimination
In insulin aspart, substitution of amino acid proline with aspartic acid at position B28 reduces the tendency to form hexamers as observed with soluble human insulin. The insulin aspart in the soluble phase of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 comprises 30% of the total insulin; this is absorbed more rapidly from the subcutaneous layer than the soluble insulin component of biphasic human insulin. The remaining 70% is in crystalline form as protamine-crystallised insulin aspart; this has a prolonged absorption profile similar to human NPH insulin.
The maximum serum insulin concentration is, on average, 50% higher with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 than with biphasic human insulin 30. The time to maximum concentration is, on average, half of that for biphasic human insulin 30. In healthy volunteers, a mean maximum serum concentration of 140 ± 32 pmol/l was reached about 60 minutes after a subcutaneous dose of 0.20 unit/kg body weight. The mean half life (t½) of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30, reflecting the absorption rate of the protamine bound fraction, was about 8-9 hours. Serum insulin levels returned to baseline 15-18 hours after a subcutaneous dose. In type 2 diabetic patients, the maximum concentration was reached about 95 minutes after dosing, and concentrations well above zero for not less than 14 hours post-dosing were measured.
Special populations
The pharmacokinetics of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 have not been investigated in elderly patients or in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.
Paediatric population
The pharmacokinetics of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 have not been investigated in children or adolescents. However, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of soluble insulin aspart have been investigated in children (6-12 years) and adolescents (13-17 years) with type 1 diabetes. Insulin aspart was rapidly absorbed in both age groups, with similar tmax as in adults. However, Cmax differed between the age groups, stressing the importance of the individual titration of insulin aspart.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 must not be administered intravenously, as it may result in severe hypoglycaemia. Intramuscular administration should be avoided. NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is not to be used in insulin infusion pumps.
Before travelling between different time zones, the patient should seek the doctor's advice since this may mean that the patient has to take the insulin and meals at different times.
Hyperglycaemia
Inadequate dosing or discontinuation of treatment, especially in type 1 diabetes, may lead to hyperglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. Usually, the first symptoms of hyperglycaemia develop gradually over a period of hours or days. They include thirst, increased frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, flushed dry skin, dry mouth, loss of appetite as well as acetone odour of breath. In type 1 diabetes, untreated hyperglycaemic events eventually lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which is potentially lethal.
Hypoglycaemia
Omission of a meal or unplanned, strenuous physical exercise may lead to hypoglycaemia.
Hypoglycaemia may occur if the insulin dose is too high in relation to the insulin requirement. In case of hypoglycaemia or if hypoglycaemia is suspected, NovoMix 50 Penfill must not be injected. After stabilisation of the patient's blood glucose, adjustment of the dose should be considered.
Compared with biphasic human insulin, NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 may have a more pronounced glucose lowering effect up to 6 hours after injection. This may have to be compensated for in the individual patient through adjustment of insulin dose and/or food intake.
Patients whose blood glucose control is greatly improved, e.g. by intensified insulin therapy, may experience a change in their usual warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia and should be advised accordingly. Usual warning symptoms may disappear in patients with longstanding diabetes.
Since NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 should be administered in immediate relation to a meal, the rapid onset of action should be considered in patients with concomitant diseases or treatment where a delayed absorption of food might be expected.
Concomitant illness, especially infections and feverish conditions, usually increases the patient's insulin requirements. Concomitant diseases in the kidney, liver or affecting the adrenal, pituitary or thyroid gland can require changes in the insulin dose.
When patients are transferred between different types of insulin medicinal products, the early warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia may change or become less pronounced than those experienced with their previous insulin.
Transfer from other insulin medicinal products
Transferring a patient to another type or brand of insulin should be done under strict medical supervision. Changes in strength, brand (manufacturer), type, origin (animal insulin, human insulin or insulin analogue) and/or method of manufacture (recombinant DNA versus animal source insulin) may result in the need for a change in dose. Patients transferred to NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 from another type of insulin may require an increased number of daily injections or a change in dose from that used with their usual insulin medicinal products. If an adjustment is needed, it may occur with the first dose or during the first few weeks or months.
Injection site reactions
As with any insulin therapy, injection site reactions may occur and include pain, redness, hives, inflammation, bruising, swelling and itching. Continuous rotation of the injection site within a given area reduces the risk of developing these reactions. Reactions usually resolve in a few days to a few weeks. On rare occasions, injection site reactions may require discontinuation of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30.
Combination of NovoMix 50 Penfill with pioglitazone
Cases of cardiac failure have been reported when pioglitazone was used in combination with insulin, especially in patients with risk factors for development of cardiac heart failure. This should be kept in mind if treatment with the combination of pioglitazone and NovoMix 50 Penfill is considered. If the combination is used, patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of heart failure, weight gain and oedema. Pioglitazone should be discontinued if any deterioration in cardiac symptoms occurs.
Avoidance of accidental mix-ups/medication errors
Patients must be instructed to always check the insulin label before each injection to avoid accidental mix-ups between NovoMix 50 Penfill and other insulin products.
Insulin antibodies
Insulin administration may cause insulin antibodies to form. In rare cases, the presence of such insulin antibodies may necessitate adjustment of the insulin dose in order to correct a tendency to hyper- or hypoglycaemia.
The patient's ability to concentrate and react may be impaired as a result of hypoglycaemia. This may constitute a risk in situations where these abilities are of special importance (e.g. driving a car or operating machinery).
Patients should be advised to take precautions to avoid hypoglycaemia while driving or operating a machine. This is particularly important in those who have reduced or absent awareness of the warning signs of hypoglycaemia or have frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia. The advisability of driving or operating a machine should be considered in these circumstances.
Posology
The potency of insulin analogues, including insulin aspart, is expressed in units, whereas the potency of human insulin is expressed in international units.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 dosing is individual and determined in accordance with the needs of the patient. Blood glucose monitoring and insulin dose adjustments are recommended to achieve optimal glycaemic control.
In patients with type 2 diabetes, NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 can be given as monotherapy. NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 can also be given in combination with oral antidiabetic medicinal products if the patient's blood glucose is inadequately controlled with oral antidiabetic medicinal products alone. For patients with type 2 diabetes, the recommended starting dose of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is 6 units at breakfast and 6 units at dinner (evening meal). NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 can also be initiated once daily with 12 units at dinner (evening meal). When using NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 once daily, it is generally recommended to move to twice daily when reaching 30 units by splitting the dose into equal breakfast and dinner doses. If twice daily dosing with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 results in recurrent daytime hypoglycaemic episodes, the morning dose can be split into morning and lunchtime doses (thrice daily dosing).
The following titration guideline is recommended for dose adjustments:
| Pre-meal blood glucose level | NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 dose adjustment | |
| <4.4 mmol/l | <80 mg/dl | -2 units |
| 4.4-6.1 mmol/l | 80-110 mg/dl | 0 |
| 6.2-7.8 mmol/l | 111-140 mg/dl | +2 units |
| 7.9-10 mmol/l | 141-180 mg/dl | +4 units |
| >10 mmol/l | >180 mg/dl | +6 units |
The lowest of the three previous days' pre-meal blood glucose levels should be used. The dose should not be increased if hypoglycaemia occurred within these days. Dose adjustments can be made once a week until target HbA1c is reached. Pre-meal blood glucose levels should be used to evaluate the adequacy of the preceding dose.
In patients with type 1 diabetes, the individual insulin requirement is usually between 0.5 and 1.0 unit/kg/day. NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 may fully or partially meet this requirement.
Adjustment of dose may be necessary if patients undertake increased physical activity, change their usual diet or during concomitant illness.
Special populations
Elderly (>65 years old)
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 can be used in elderly patients; however there is limited experience with the use of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 in combination with oral antidiabetic medicinal products in patients older than 75 years.
In elderly patients, glucose monitoring should be intensified and the insulin aspart dose adjusted on an individual basis.
Renal and hepatic impairment
Renal or hepatic impairment may reduce the patient's insulin requirements.
In patients with renal or hepatic impairment, glucose monitoring should be intensified and the insulin aspart dose adjusted on an individual basis.
Paediatric population
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 can be used in adolescents and children aged 10 years and above when premixed insulin is preferred. There is limited clinical experience with NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 in children aged 6-9 years.
No data are available for NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 in children below 6 years of age.
Transfer from other insulin medicinal products
When transferring a patient from biphasic human insulin to NovoMix 50 Penfill 30, start with the same dose and regimen. Then titrate according to individual needs (see the titration guideline in the table above).
Close glucose monitoring is recommended during the transfer and in the initial weeks thereafter.
Method of administration
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is a biphasic suspension of the insulin analogue, insulin aspart. The suspension contains rapid-acting and intermediate-acting insulin aspart in the ratio 30/70.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is for subcutaneous administration only.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 is administered subcutaneously by injection in the thigh or in the abdominal wall. If convenient, the gluteal or deltoid region may be used. Injection sites should always be rotated within the same region in order to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy. The influence of different injection sites on the absorption of NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 has not been investigated. The duration of action will vary according to the dose, injection site, blood flow, temperature and level of physical activity.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 has a faster onset of action than biphasic human insulin and should generally be given immediately before a meal. When necessary, NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 can be given soon after a meal.
For detailed user instructions, please refer to the package leaflet.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 Penfill
Administration with an insulin delivery system
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 Penfill is designed to be used with Novo Nordisk insulin delivery systems and NovoFine or NovoTwist needles. NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 Penfill is only suitable for subcutaneous injections from a reusable pen. If administration by syringe is necessary, a vial should be used.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 FlexPen
Administration with FlexPen
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 FlexPen is a pre-filled pen (colour-coded) designed to be used with NovoFine or NovoTwist needles. FlexPen delivers 1-60 units in increments of 1 unit. NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 FlexPen is only suitable for subcutaneous injections. If administration by syringe is necessary, a vial should be used.
After removing NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 Penfill or NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 FlexPen from the refrigerator, it is recommended to allow NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 Penfill or NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 FlexPen to reach room temperature before resuspending the insulin as instructed for first time use.
Do not use this medicinal product if you notice that the resuspended liquid is not uniformly white, cloudy and aqueous.
The necessity of resuspending the NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 suspension immediately before use is to be stressed to the patient.
NovoMix 50 Penfill 30 which has been frozen must not be used.
The patient should be advised to discard the needle after each injection.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
Needles, cartridges and pre-filled pens must not be shared.
The cartridge must not be refilled.
