New insulin appears in Israel: injection just once a week. And the price?

Israel has registered the world's first weekly insulin, Awiqli, for type 2 diabetes. The drug is available privately at a cost of 280 to 527 shekels per pack. Clinical trials have shown effectiveness comparable to daily injections.

Israel has registered the world's first weekly insulin, Awiqli (insulin icodec), produced by Novo. The drug is primarily intended for patients with type 2 diabetes and reduces the number of injections from 365 to 52 per year. Currently, it can only be purchased privately at a price ranging from 280 to 527 shekels per pack, which lasts up to 12 weeks. Awiqli received approval in the EU in 2024 and in the US in March 2026. In September 2026, the FDA approved another weekly insulin, Onswik by Eli Lilly, but its arrival in Israel has not yet been announced. The drug replaces only basal insulin, not rapid-acting insulin before meals. Ilan, a 67-year-old patient who participated in clinical trials at Meir Hospital, noted that the drug provides a sense of security for the entire week and simplifies blood sugar control. Professor Roy Eldor from Ichilov Hospital called the drug a revolution in insulin therapy that could help overcome the psychological barrier to starting treatment. The efficacy and safety of Awiqli were studied in the ONWARDS program, which included six clinical trials involving about 4,000 patients. The glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level was comparable or better compared to daily basal insulin. The headline uses a rhetorical question about the price, although the price is directly stated in the text.