Novo Nordisk Korea said Monday that Ryzodeg, the company's soluble insulin analog has achieved the top spot in the domestic mixed insulin market.

According to IMS Health, a global health research firm, Ryzodeg occupied the 38.9 percent share of the local mixed insulin market in the second quarter of 2019. It marked a nearly a 12-fold increase from 2.6 percent in November 2017 when it was launched.

The drug is the first insulin combination composed 70 percent of Tresiba, ultra-long-acting basal insulin, and 30 percent of Novorephid, rapid-acting mealtime insulin. It improves the compliance of patients with diabetes by reducing the number of injections compared with Basal-Bolus therapy, which is a combination of basal insulin and dietary insulin.

"Ryzodeg was able to surpass Novomix, the company's existing mixed insulin, in a short time because of its upgraded therapeutic benefits," the company said. "Unlike the conventional mixed insulin Novomix 30, which requires regular doses at the same time every day, patients can flexibly change the dosing time for Ryzodeg according to mealtimes if they keep an interval of four hours."

The company confirmed the drug's efficacy and safety in 2,414 patients with type-1 and type-2 diabetes in five critical studies, with one phase 3a study -- BOOST Intensify Premix I -- proving the non-inferiority of the injection compared to NovoMix (BIAsp 30).

Results showed a statistically significant lowering of overall hypoglycemic incidence by 32 percent and a lowering of nocturnal hypoglycemia by 73 percent when compared to NovoMix 30. The drug also lowered fasting blood glucose (FPG) significantly by 20.52 mg/dL,

"Our company believes that Ryzodeg's leadership in the mixed insulin market is thanks to the earned the trust and recognition of local medical staff and patients," Novo Nordisk Korea CEO Rana Azfar Zafar said. "As a leading brand, we will strive to help people with diabetes enjoy healthy lives through convenient and effective treatment options."