Insulin aspart

Insulin aspart, sold under the brand name NovoLog, among others, is a modified type of medical insulin used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is generally used by injection under the skin but may also be used by injection into a vein. Maximum effect occurs after about 1–3 hours and lasts for 3–5 hours. Generally a longer-acting insulin like insulin NPH is also needed.

Common side effects include low blood sugar, allergic reactions, itchiness, and pain at the site of injection. Other serious side effects may include low blood potassium. Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is generally safe. It works the same as human insulin by increasing the amount of glucose that tissues take in and decreasing the amount of glucose made by the liver. It is a manufactured form of human insulin; where a single amino acid has been changed, specifically a proline with an aspartic acid at the B28 position.

Insulin aspart was approved for medical use in the United States in 2000. In 2021, it was the 71st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 9 million prescriptions. Manufacturing involves yeast, which have had the gene for insulin aspart put into their genome. This yeast then makes the insulin, which is harvested from the bioreactor.