Sanofi-Aventis announces expert statement on Lantus

Sanofi-Aventis has announced the release of an expert statement by a panel of “renowned international” specialists after an examinatiion of the publication of analyses with Lantus (insulin glargine injection) in the Diabetologia journal.

The experts came from a wide range of fields, including oncology, epidemiology and endocrinology.

In a statement, they said that the published manuscripts have “significant methodological limitations” and that the results offered are “inconclusive” regarding a potential connection between insulin glargine use and increased cancer risk.

“What we know about the safety of Lantus comes from a robust clinical programme that includes prospective, randomised clinical trials, supported by solid post-marketing surveillance observations”, said Dr Jean-Pierre Lehner, chief medical officer at Sanofi-Aventis.

He added that the experts’ opinion is consistent with previous assessments of the analysis of Lantus.

The organisation published data regarding the safety of Lantus compared with NPH insulin in the development of retinotherapy in patients with diabetes earlier this month.