News Capsule - National

Biocon launches diabetes insulin Basalog in India

Our News Bureau - Mumbai

Biocon has launched Basalog, a human insulin analogue, which targets to provide relieve to diabetic patients of frequent insulin use. The product is now available in India in 10 ml and 3 ml vials and this product is effective for 24 hours.

The key advantage of this product is that it replaces other long acting insulins that do not act for 24 hours, therefore diminishing the discomfort of multiple insulin shots and the possibility of developing hypoglycaemia low blood sugar. Hence, Basalog offers better glucose control with the compliance of a single shot. The company believed that treatment with long acting insulin analogues like glargine will allow better metabolic control, thereby resulting in a better quality of life and treatment satisfaction.

"Diabetes is a debilitating disease that is pervading global populations like a pandemic with India at its epicentre. Biocon is committed to developing affordable insulin based therapies to manage this disease burden. Basalog, a peak less long acting insulin analog, augments the efficacy of recombinant human insulin and it is our endeavour to play a key role in combating diabetes the world over," said Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon.

Rakesh Bamzai, President Marketing, Biocon, said, "Glargine is truly a life changing drug for diabetes management that has been delivered from our R&D pipeline which will be an enormous boon to diabetic patients in India. What is even more important is the affordable pricing which Biocon brings to the Indian market which will provide greater access to such a vital drug."

In a diabetic patient, glucose control is determined by checking the PPG (Post Prandial Glucose), FPG and HbA1c. HbA1c is a diagnostic test to ascertain the patient's blood glucose control for a three month period. The HbA1c in a normal individual ranges between four to six percent. In a diabetic, HbA1c of less than seven percent is considered as effective control and hence the target in a diabetic is to achieve HbA1c of less than seven percent. Every one percent reduction in HbA1c leads to 20 percent reduction in mortality. Basalog is 'Just one shot a day' basal insulin for effective HbA1c control.

Currently ADA'09 (American Diabetes Association) guidelines support Oral (tablets like metformin) + basal therapy known as Glargine is an early regimen for diabetics in order to achieve better glucose control.

Many doctors avoid prescribing insulin due to the uncertainty of resulting hypoglycaemia and non-compliance of patients who avoid insulin due to the trauma of multiple injections.