Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects a staggering 464,200 individuals in Lebanon who live with a challenging quality of life no matter the stage or the type of the disease. Driven by its leading role in supporting patients in the management of their diabetes, Sanofi announced today the introduction of its novel formulation of basal insulin to the Lebanese market. Sanofi’s next generation basal insulin will enable further patient control and treatment optimization through a favorable safety profile: less “nocturnal” and “all day” hypoglycemia events, as well as weight neutrality.
The new drug approval was based on the results of the EDITION clinical trials, which evaluated its efficacy and safety in over 3,500 adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In this analysis, more pronounced, significant reductions in hypoglycemia rates at any time of day, including nighttime, were observed during the 8-week titration period when compared with original basal insulin.
“This important milestone is another step forward in expanding our insulin portfolio,” said Dr. Marie-Therese Sawaya, Head of Sanofi Diabetes Business Unit. “Sanofi and its research team are proud of this new discovery, this next generation of basal insulin will help doctors manage diabetic patients and increase their chances in reaching optimal glycemic control. We continue to be encouraged by the positive results to help meet unmet needs of people living with diabetes.”
Insulin glargine U-300, a long-acting analog of insulin, will regulate the glucose metabolism offering doctors additional options to help manage patients who are not currently able to reach optimal glycemic control. This ‘next generation’ of basal insulin has a more stable and prolonged glucose-lowering effect improving glycemic control in adults. It is administered once a day and acts as long acting basal insulin by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake, especially via skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production.
“Early insulinization is a key drive for long term patient benefit and control as most patients start insulin at a very late disease stage with many co-morbidities and complications thus making it difficult for doctors to control their blood sugar and disease progression,” explained Dr. Geremia Bolli, Professor at the University of Perugia, Italy, who helped lead the EDITION study. “Early insulin treatment is the most cost effective regimen versus new costly treatments that have minimal HbA1c efficacy versus insulin treatment efficacy.”
“69% of diabetic patients in Lebanon are uncontrolled and 80% of insulinized patients do not reach their glycemic target,” said Dr. Emile Andari – President of the Lebanese Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Lipids. “Hypoglycemia is one of the most frequent adverse events experienced by people treated with insulin and fear of these events can prevent some patients administering appropriate insulin doses and can even lead to discontinuation of treatment. A reducing hypoglycemia event is relevant in helping patients better manage diabetes.”
