A recombinant human insulin analogue has been licensed for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The product, insulin glargine injection (Lantus), has received a central EMEA (European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products) licence which is applicable to all European Union member countries, including the UK. A spokeswoman for the manufacturer, Aventis, said that it would be launched in Germany first, followed by the US, probably in September. However, it would not be launched in the UK until 2001. Further information about the product would be sent to pharmacists, doctors and nurses soon. She added that the reason for not launching insulin glargine sooner in the UK was because unknown demand for the product made a single global launch difficult.
Aventis says that insulin glargine is indicated for once-daily subcutaneous administration at bedtime and that studies have shown that it has a 24-hour duration of action. Its chemical structure regulates its release into the circulation, which provides a peakless, predictable concentration with a prolonged duration of action, the company says. It adds that less nocturnal but more early morning hypoglycaemia can be expected with insulin glargine.