The development of insulin glargine, a long-acting basal insulin, has been
described as an “important milestone in insulin therapy”.
At a satellite symposium at the European association for the study of diabetes
meeting in Jerusalem on September 19, Dr Geremia Bolli (professor of medicine,
University of Perugia, Italy) said that existing intermediate- and long-acting
insulins had unwanted peaks, limited durations and variability in absorption.
“Insulin glargine, given in a regimen with the short–acting insulin
analogues at meal time, and combined with key components of intensive therapy
(education, frequent blood glucose monitoring and close contact with a diabetologist)
can be expected to lower fasting and pre-meal plasma glucose, and decrease the
risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia, thus improving long-term glycaemic control,”
he said. Insulin glargine (Lantus, Aventis) is expected to be launched in the
UK in 2001 and was launched in Germany earlier this year (see PJ, July 8, p44).