Back to discover
Drug

Insulin

Approved · EMA
ClassInsulin receptor agonistExtensively researchedLate-stage developmentRising momentum
Also known as Afrezza, High molecular weight insulin human, Human insulin, Human insulin soluble+22 more

Afrezza, High molecular weight insulin human, Human insulin, Human insulin soluble, Human regular insulin, HumuLIN R, Humulin, INSULIN HUMAN, Insulin (human), Insulin Human Regular, Insulin regular, Insulin, human, Insulina regular, Myxredlin, NovoLIN R, Novolin, Regular Insulin, human, Velosulin BR, insulin regular, human, INSULIN,REGULAR,HUMAN/SEMISYNTHETIC, INSULIN,REGULAR,HUMAN/rDNA, Insulin human regular (rDNA), ReliOn/HumuLIN R, insulin regular human recombinant, insulin regular, human semi-synthetic, insulin, regular, human.

118
Research papers
14
Active clinical trials
Insulin receptor
Primary target
3
Regulatory events
Latest activity
beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this drug.

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

Canonical identifiers, marketed brand names and mechanism, resolved across RxNorm, ChEMBL and ATC.

Canonical name
Insulin
Aliases & brands
AfrezzaHigh molecular weight insulin humanHuman insulinHuman insulin solubleHuman regular insulinHumuLIN RHumulinINSULIN HUMANInsulin (human)Insulin Human RegularInsulin regularInsulin, humanInsulina regularMyxredlinNovoLIN RNovolinRegular Insulin, humanVelosulin BRinsulin regular, humanINSULIN,REGULAR,HUMAN/SEMISYNTHETICINSULIN,REGULAR,HUMAN/rDNAInsulin human regular (rDNA)ReliOn/HumuLIN Rinsulin regular human recombinantinsulin regular, human semi-syntheticinsulin, regular, human
RxNorm CUI
253182
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1201631
ATC codes
A10AF01A10AC01A10AD01A10AB01A10AE01
UNII
1Y17CTI5SR
Primary mechanism
Insulin receptor agonist
Regulatory jurisdictions
ema

Pharmacology & targets

1 target

Known molecular targets and mechanisms supported by curated pharmacology databases.

Insulin receptor
INSR · P06213
AGONISTInsulin receptor agonist

Regulatory timeline

3 events

The complete regulatory record, grouped by authority — approvals, safety advisories and label changes. Each authority shows its most recent events; expand one to read its full history.

Earliest approval
1997-02-21
Latest approval
2002-10-07
Authorities
EMA
Total events
3
emaEuropean Medicines Agency· 3 events
2002-10-07Approval
Approval: Actraphane (EMA)

Indication: Treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Evidence ↗
2002-10-07Approval
Approval: Mixtard (EMA)

Indication: Treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Evidence ↗
1997-02-21Approval
Approval: Insuman (EMA)
Indication: Diabetes mellitus where treatment with insulin is required. Insuman Rapid is also suitable for the treatment of hyperglycaemic coma and ketoacidosis, as well as for achievingShow full indication

Diabetes mellitus where treatment with insulin is required. Insuman Rapid is also suitable for the treatment of hyperglycaemic coma and ketoacidosis, as well as for achieving pre-, intra- and postoperative stabilisation in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Evidence ↗

Contains information from the European Medicines Agency (European Medicines Agency), © EMA, reused under CC BY 4.0.

Clinical trials

183 trials

The current development programme across all trial phases — status mix, phase distribution and the late-stage studies shaping the evidence base.

Development programme
CLINICALTRIALS.GOV · LIVE REGISTRY
183
registered trials across all phases
LATEST COMPLETION 2026
14
Active studies
10
Recruiting
124
Late-stage (III+)
128
Completed
41
Discontinued
PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 183
Early Phase 111Phase 119Phase 1 / 26Phase 223Phase 2 / 35Phase 325Phase 447Phase N / A47

Late-stage studies

Phase III+ trials still open or recently active — where late-stage evidence is being generated.

Recent completions

Trials that read out recently, adding to the completed evidence base.

Research activity

118 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this drug, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
19932025
Most influential
Recent papers
Major research themes8
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 222Insulin Resistance17Diabetes Mellitus, Type 18Insulin8Polycystic Ovary Syndrome7Glucagon-Like Peptide 16Islets of Langerhans6Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide4
Journals, researchers & institutions
Top journals
  • Diabetes8
  • International journal of molecular sciences8
  • The Journal of clinical investigation8
  • Nature communications6
  • Frontiers in endocrinology4
  • Cardiovascular diabetology3
Leading researchers
  • Holst JJ7
  • Drucker DJ5
  • Nauck MA5
  • Müller TD4
  • Bie-Olsen LG3
  • Kadowaki T3
  • Kjaer TW3
  • Law I3
Leading institutions
free-text, unnormalised
  • University of Copenhagen5
  • Institute for Diabetes and Obesity4
  • School of Medicine4
  • University of California4
  • Baylor College of Medicine3
  • German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)3

Related diseases

12 conditions

Regulator-approved indications and conditions co-mentioned with this drug across the research literature. Number shows shared papers.

Related drugs

8 matches

Drugs sharing diseases, protein targets and literature with this one. Ranked by graph evidence (shared targets + diseases weighted above co-mentions).

Studied across 21 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

14 shared papers21 shared diseases

Studied across 17 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

17 shared diseases6 shared papers

Studied across 19 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

19 shared diseases4 shared papers

Studied across 21 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

21 shared diseases3 shared papers

Studied across 27 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

27 shared diseases1 shared paper

Studied across 14 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

14 shared diseases5 shared papers

Studied across 14 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

14 shared diseases4 shared papers

Studied across 17 of the same disease areas as Insulin in the shared literature.

17 shared diseases1 shared paper
References & data sources
  • RxNorm (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — drug identity
  • ChEMBL (EMBL-EBI) & UniProt — pharmacology and targets
  • Europe PMC — research literature
  • ClinicalTrials.gov — clinical trials
  • Regulatory event sources are credited in the Regulatory Timeline above.