Novo First Once-Weekly Basal Insulin Approved for Type 2 Diabetes

 The FDA approved insulin icodec (Awiqli) as the first once-weekly, long-acting basal insulin for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, developer Novo Nordisk announced.

Of note, the agency rejected the product in 2024 for type 1 diabetes, where it is still not indicated.

Designed to reduce treatment burden as an alternative to daily basal insulin, the once-weekly injection is approved in type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise. Patients administer the dose on the same day each week, with or without food, using a pre-filled FlexTouch device.

The approval is supported by the phase IIIa ONWARDS clinical program, which was comprised of four randomized, treat-to-target trials. Roughly 2,680 adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were enrolled across the program, using insulin icodec with either mealtime insulin or in combination with common oral anti-diabetic agents and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists.

In ONWARDS 1, participants had a greater average reduction in HbA1c with insulin icodec compared with once-daily insulin glargine U100 over 52 weeks (estimated between-group difference -0.19%, 95% CI -0.36 to -0.03). While the rate of clinically significant or severe hypoglycemia was low, it was numerically higher with insulin icodec compared with glargine U100 at week 52 (0.30 vs 0.16 events per person-year).

The approval follows a nearly 3-year regulatory journey.

Safety concerns regarding hypoglycemia previously prompted an FDA advisory committee to convene in May 2024 to discuss the use of icodec in patients with type 1 diabetes. In the ONWARDS 6 trial, the once-weekly injection showed non-inferiority to once-daily insulin degludec for HbA1c reduction in the type 1 population, but carried a significantly higher estimated rate of severe or clinically significant hypoglycemia.

Ultimately, the committee determined the risk-benefit profile was unfavorable for type 1 diabetes, and in July 2024, the FDA rejected insulin icodec over these safety concerns, as well as ones related to manufacturing.

Novo Nordisk expects to launch once-weekly insulin icodec for type 2 diabetes in the second half of this year.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/diabetes/120534

'Reuters: Despite U.S. Strikes, Iran’s Missile Power Remains'

 The United States can only confirm with certainty that it has destroyed about a third of Iran’s vast missile arsenal, according to five sources familiar with U.S. intelligence cited by Reuters, as the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran continues into its fourth week.

According to the sources, another third of Iran’s missile stockpile is in a less clear state, with intelligence suggesting that many systems may have been damaged, destroyed, or buried in underground facilities. The assessments reportedly also extend to Iran’s drone capabilities, where similar levels of confirmed destruction were indicated.

Despite the scale of strikes, officials acknowledge that Iran likely retains a significant portion of its missile inventory, some of which may still be recoverable after hostilities end.

The intelligence assessment appears to contrast with remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently claimed Iran had “very few rockets left.” Officials cited in the report suggest the battlefield reality is more complex, with remaining capabilities still posing a potential threat.

U.S. Central Command has reportedly stated that Iranian missile, drone, and naval production facilities have been heavily damaged, though it has not provided a precise overall percentage of destroyed capability.

Despite sustained strikes, Iran continues to demonstrate operational missile capability. The report notes that Iranian forces have continued launching missiles and drones in recent weeks, indicating that their arsenal has not been fully degraded.

Military experts quoted by Reuters warned that Iran’s extensive network of underground facilities complicates efforts to accurately assess remaining stockpiles, suggesting that a portion of its missile forces may remain hidden and operational.

The U.S. military campaign, described as targeting both Iran’s missile stockpiles and production infrastructure, has reportedly struck thousands of targets. However, uncertainty remains over the true scale of Iran’s remaining capabilities, with officials acknowledging the difficulty of confirming how many missiles are stored underground.

As the conflict continues, analysts say the durability of Iran’s missile program could shape the next phase of the regional confrontation.

https://clashreport.com/defense/articles/despite-us-strikes-irans-missile-power-remains-intact-1uq4s118zmk

Sources:

Reuters

North Sea Oil Fight Escalates As Starmer Cites Legal Limits

 by Mauricio Alencar via City A.M.,

Sir Keir Starmer has said he doesn’t hold legal powers to approve fresh exploration of North Sea oil and gas fields, with the decision falling in the hands of net zero secretary Ed Miliband.

Starmer said current legislation determined that a quasi-judicial decision relating to cases for more gas extraction at Shell’s Jackdaw site and Equinor’s Rosebank oil field was left to Miliband.

The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding renewable energy. He said the introduction of fresh legislation would “slow the process down” and accused the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, of failing to know about the law before raising questions in Parliament. 

“Its absolutely clear that the quasi judicial [process] lies with secretary of state,” Starmer said. 

“In the last four weeks, because we are on a fossil fuel rollercoaster, everyone is being held to ransom."

He added: “The most important thing to get energy security is to make sure we de-escalate the war.”

Starmer backed by Davey

Scottish courts ruled government approvals for more extraction at each field as unlawful on environmental grounds.

The power now falls on the energy secretary to make a decision while considering economic and environmental reasons for projects.

Badenoch accused Starmer of “hiding behind legal process every time” though Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who served as the energy secretary in the coalition government, said he agreed with the Prime Minister. 

The Tory leader heckled Davey to “stop sucking up”. She also shouted out “you can change the law” and repeated the word “weak” several times. 

Starmer is facing growing pressure to remove restrictions on North Sea oil and gas projects from officials working across clean energy.

Jurgen Maier, who oversees Great British Energy, the publicly owned investment company, said in a post on LinkedIn that more drilling in the region would support a “managed energy transition”, slow job losses and improve tax receipts.

However, he said that energy costs would not be brought down and later emphasised he was “fully supportive” of the government’s position to use existing fields for further exploration.

Prime Minister’s Questions also came just a day after the lobby group Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) called on the government to “urgently” allow new drilling projects to take place. 

Its annual report said much as half of the UK’s liquified natural gas (LNG) will come from international suppliers by 2035. 

David Whitehouse, chief executive of OEUK, said:

“As demand rises and electricity use accelerates, weakening domestic supply would only increase our reliance on imported LNG, leaving consumers more exposed to global volatility and higher emissions.”

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/north-sea-oil-fight-escalates-starmer-cites-legal-limits

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Russia-strikes-Ukrainian-oil-facilities-in-Sumy-region/65972412

'Pentagon preparing for weeks of ground operations: WaPo'

 

According to the report, any operation would not involve a full-scale invasion. US President Trump had not yet approved the plans due to the high risk they pose to American soldiers.

The Pentagon is preparing for a ground operation against Iran that could last weeks if US President Donald Trump decides to attack Tehran by ground, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing US officials.

According to the report, any operation would not involve a full-scale invasion but would instead focus on special operations missions and specific infantry ground operations.

The report also mentions that, due to the high risk that these operations would represent for American soldiers, it was unclear as of Saturday night if Trump would approve of such an operation.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891481

IRGC targets Israeli or U.S. universities in region in retaliation for alleged attack

 

IRGC says Washington has until noon Monday to condemn strikes if it wants to avoid retaliatory action

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-29-2026/

Sunday talkies: Gensler, Homan, Cotton, Scalise

 NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday”: former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler

CBS News’s “Face the Nation”: former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Rep. James Himes (D-Conn.), White House border czar Tom Homan, former commander of U.S. Central Command and retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior fellow Karim Sadjadpour

NBC’s “Meet the Press“: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

CNN’s “State of the Union”: White House border czar Tom Homan, Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.)

Fox News’s “Fox News Sunday“: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Heritage Foundation senior research fellow Brent Sadler, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.)

ABC’s “This Week“: Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.)
 
Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures”: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.)

https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/5806066-sunday-shows-preview-gop-divide-spills-into-dhs-funding-battle-iran-conflict-widens/