Sanofi Aventis’ Lantus ‘better tolerated’ than insulin lispro

A new study from Sanofi-Aventis has found that its long-acting insulin analogue, glargine (marketed as Lantus) is as effective but “better tolerated” than insulin lispro, a short-acting insulin analogue developed by Eli Lilly.

The study, released at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association, is the first trial to directly compare long-acting, once-daily insulin analogues, with short-acting, pre-meal insulins.

Researchers found that blood glucose levels for patients using either drug reached the target of under seven per cent. Lantus, according to Sanofi-Aventis, provided “significantly better” control of fasting blood glucose and nocturnal blood glucose, whereas lispro provided better blood glucose control immediately after meals.

However, Sanofi-Aventis said that Lantus provides a clear advantage in that it reduced the incidence of hypoglycaemic events by four times in comparison to lispro – 5.4 hypoglycaemic incidents per patient year for Lantus compared with 24.4 for lispro.

Professor Reinhard G Bretzel, chief investigator of the study, commented: “The Lantus regimen was associated with a reduced risk of hypoglycaemia, fewer insulin injections and less self-monitoring of blood glucose compared to lispro.”

“These are important factors in ensuring patient treatment satisfaction and compliance,” he concluded.

According to charity Diabetes UK, different people are best suited to individual insulin regimes, which may involve longer-acting insulin analogues like Lantus or short-acting ones like lispro. Sanofi-Aventis produces Apidra and Insuman Rapid, two short-acting insulin analogues, as well as Insuman Basal, a medium-term insulin analogue.

Lantus’ main competitor is the Novo Nordisk drug, Levemir – another long-acting insulin analogue.

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