Recently, findings from a Phase II clinical trial conducted in China for GZR4 injection, a Class 1 innovative once‑weekly basal insulin independently developed by Ganli Pharmaceutical, have been officially published in Metabolism‑Clinical and Experimental (commonly referred to as Metabolism), a prestigious international journal in endocrinology. As a globally recognized top academic journal in endocrinology and metabolism, it achieved a latest Impact Factor of 11.9 in 2025 and enjoys extensive influence in the field.
The study results demonstrated that once‑weekly administration of GZR4 injection for 16 weeks showed favorable efficacy and safety in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, compared with once‑daily insulin therapy, GZR4 injection achieved a significantly greater reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among T2DM patients with inadequate glycemic control on prior basal insulin treatment.
The Phase II trial systematically evaluated the efficacy and safety of this once‑weekly basal insulin in Chinese T2DM patients with poor glycemic control on oral antidiabetic drugs alone or combined with basal insulin. The results indicated that GZR4 provides potent and steady glucose lowering with an overall favorable safety profile. Notably, substantial HbA1c reductions were observed specifically in patients failing existing basal insulin regimens.
Compared with once‑daily basal insulin, the once‑weekly formulation reduces annual injection frequency by over 80%, which is expected to significantly improve medication adherence and address clinical inertia commonly seen in insulin management. Currently, the Phase III clinical development of GZR4 is progressing smoothly across more than 150 study sites in China. The trial will further confirm long‑term efficacy and safety in over 1,000 patients, generating robust evidence for clinical application and offering a novel therapeutic option for people with diabetes in China.