Earlier today I posted a blog
on the introduction of the long-acting insulin drug Levemir to the US market. A reader has since raised the excellent
question of how Levemir differs from Lantus, another long-acting insulin drug already available in the US. I went
online looking for an answer to this question and found an old article from the Copenhagen Post published back
in 2004. Although it's old news (excuse the pun!) by now, it is interesting because it discusses the fierce competition
for dominance of the European market by the manufacturers of the two drugs: the French-German company Sanofi-Aventis
(Lantus) and Danish insulin producer Novo Nordis (Levemir). Lantus and Levemir are both long-acting insulin products,
right? Well, the main difference between them seems to be that Lantus only has to be injected once a day, compared with
once or twice a day for Levemir. On the other hand, Levemir is less likely to cause weight gain. So it comes down to
convenience versus weight control, at least according to this article. Interestingly, the market analyst quoted here
basically concludes that Lantus has the competitive edge for its convenience. I would be willing to bet this logic will
not apply in the US market: let's not underestimate the importance many American diabetics attach to avoiding
(additional) weight gain.Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
Posts with tag long-acting insulin
Lantus versus Levemir
Earlier today I posted a blog
on the introduction of the long-acting insulin drug Levemir to the US market. A reader has since raised the excellent
question of how Levemir differs from Lantus, another long-acting insulin drug already available in the US. I went
online looking for an answer to this question and found an old article from the Copenhagen Post published back
in 2004. Although it's old news (excuse the pun!) by now, it is interesting because it discusses the fierce competition
for dominance of the European market by the manufacturers of the two drugs: the French-German company Sanofi-Aventis
(Lantus) and Danish insulin producer Novo Nordis (Levemir). Lantus and Levemir are both long-acting insulin products,
right? Well, the main difference between them seems to be that Lantus only has to be injected once a day, compared with
once or twice a day for Levemir. On the other hand, Levemir is less likely to cause weight gain. So it comes down to
convenience versus weight control, at least according to this article. Interestingly, the market analyst quoted here
basically concludes that Lantus has the competitive edge for its convenience. I would be willing to bet this logic will
not apply in the US market: let's not underestimate the importance many American diabetics attach to avoiding
(additional) weight gain.Long-acting insulin becomes available in the US
News
flash: drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk, Inc., announced today that a long-acting insulin product named Levemir will now
be available in the United States. Levemir controls glucose levels for periods up to twenty-four hours, so only needs
to be used once or twice a day. It has also proved less likely to cause weight gain and hypoglycemia in diabetics.
Levemir has been approved for use in Type 1 diabetics (adults and children) and Type 2 diabetics (adults only). This
drug is one of a slew of new products aimed at treating diabetes more effectively, but also in a way that is easier or
more convenient - thereby addressing the worrisome fact that a great many diabetics have been diagnosed but struggle to
properly manage the disease. Check out the product's press release at the website www.marketwire.com.
