Manufacturing Issue Causes Shortage of Insulin Pens, as Reported by DiabeticLive.com

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) October 24, 2011

French pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi recently notified doctors that they will soon face a shortage of an insulin pen product. The shortage is caused by a "technical incident" at a manufacturing plant in Frankfurt, Germany, said the company in its letter.

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Patients will find it difficult to obtain the Apidra solostar pen, an insulin delivery product that is often used by diabetics to accompany a meal and prevent blood glucose levels from rising too high. The Apidra pen is a fast-acting insulin product, lowering blood sugar levels for about two to four hours after injection.

The Food and Drug Administration also posted the letter on its own website. The manufacturing incident occurred on July 11, according to Sanofi, and will affect production of Apidra pens throughout the rest of the year. Sanofi expects that the pens will once again be widely available in the first quarter of 2012.

Patients in the United States will feel the effects of the shortage as early as late this month. Sanofi advised doctors to switch patients to Apidra vials and syringes, noting that no dosage adjustments would be necessary.

Sanofi will offer free vials to patients with insurance throughout April for those with co-pays. More information about the offer can be found at http://www.apidra.com.

According to Sanofi, the pens currently available on the market are safe for use and were not affected by the manufacturing issue. The company also reassured doctors and patients that Lantus, a long-acting insulin product also manufactured by Sanofi, was not affected by the issue.
Apidra pens deliver insuiln glulisine, a type of insulin that is not produced by humans but acts very similar in humans physiologically. The pens deliver an injection under the skin; the insulin begins working within five minutes of the injection—faster than natural human insulin—and lasts for two to four hours. Injections are typically given within the 15 minutes preceding a meal, and the most common side effect of Apidra is hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels.

Once Apidra pens become unavailable, patients may replace them with other fast-acting insulin products on the market today. Individuals with Type 1 diabetes need insulin injections, usually every day; the disease is characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas by the immune system. Some patients with Type 2 diabetes also require daily injections of insulin, though that variant of the disease is usually associated with obesity and poor diet in adulthood.

DiabeticLive.com is a news publication that provides diabetes news, information and resources for those living with the disease. We also provide inspiring stories of those living with diabetes. The site is also very strong in areas such as the latest medical research, advances, drugs and diets.

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