Lantus and Apidra improve outcomes, decrease glycemic variability: Study

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today results of a study which demonstrated that patients using Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection) once-daily and Apidra® (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin] injection) before meals reported improved patient reported outcomes and decreased glycemic variability versus premix analog insulin. Two abstracts from this study were highlighted at the American Diabetes Association's 70th Annual Scientific Sessions (ADA).

People following a basal-bolus insulin regimen use separate injections of a basal insulin and a mealtime insulin. This regimen is designed to address hyperglycemia before it happens by providing adequate insulin to cover fasting and prandial insulin needs. A premix insulin regimen combines prandial insulin analogs and the intermediate-acting insulin, NPH, in one injection. The results of this study demonstrated that patients using a basal-bolus regimen, with Lantus® and Apidra®, reported improved outcomes and quality of life.

"These results indicate that patients treated with a basal-bolus insulin regimen consisting of Lantus® and Apidra® demonstrate an improved quality of life and patient reported outcomes compared to those treated with premix analog insulin," said Donald Simonson, MD, MPH, ScD of the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension Division of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and principal investigator of the study.