Humulin 70-30 Drug Class
Humulin 70-30 is a premixed insulin product classified as a combination of intermediate-acting and short-acting human insulin.
Specific Composition
- Humulin 70-30 contains 70% NPH (intermediate-acting human insulin) and 30% regular human insulin (short-acting) 1
- This fixed-ratio formulation provides both basal insulin coverage from the NPH component and prandial insulin coverage from the regular insulin component 1
Pharmacologic Classification Details
- Drug class: Premixed/biphasic insulin product 1
- Type: Human insulin (not an insulin analogue) 1
- The NPH component provides intermediate-acting basal coverage, while the regular insulin component addresses mealtime glucose excursions 1
Clinical Context
- Humulin 70/30 is administered twice daily, typically 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner, due to the pharmacodynamic profile of regular human insulin requiring pre-meal timing 2
- This product is considerably less expensive than insulin analogues and can be purchased at select pharmacies for approximately $25/vial, well below the average wholesale price 1
- The fixed 70/30 ratio offers less flexibility in dose adjustment compared to separate basal and bolus insulins, which may not be optimal for all patients with varying insulin requirements throughout the day 2
Alternative Premixed Products
- Other premixed insulin products include analogue-based formulations such as 70/30 aspart mix, 75/25 lispro mix, and 50/50 lispro mix, which differ from Humulin 70/30 in their use of rapid-acting analogues rather than regular human insulin 1