New disposable insulin pens for diabetics to be launched in January 2008

SoloSTAR® is a new, easy-to-use disposable pen for administration of LANTUS® and APIDRA®. SoloSTAR® reduces the injection force by 30% or more in comparison to other leading disposable pens. This is beneficial for all insulin treated patients with diabetes and in particular for those with lower grip strength, and the estimated up to 58% of individuals with limited joint mobility of the hand.

SoloSTAR® has the highest dose range of disposable insulin pens with a single dosage up to 80 units, adjustable in 1 unit steps. To help with correct insulin identification and differentiation SoloSTAR® also has a completely different pen colour for each different insulin. Blue for Apidra® SoloSTAR® and Grey for Lantus® SoloSTAR®

“LANTUS® SoloSTAR® and APIDRA® SoloSTAR® are the result of over four years of intensive development and testing. We have designed this pen with input from people with diabetes, from nurses and from doctors, resulting in a delivery system that we trust will meet the real needs of users”, explained Gilles Lhernould, Senior Vice President Industrial Affairs sanofi-aventis.

“Insulin therapy for people with type 2 diabetes is generally initiated very late in the course of the disease, resulting in the risk of raised diabetes-related organ damage”, explained Satish Garg, Professor, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, USA. “Easy-to-use pens such as SoloSTAR® bring greater flexibility for the patients and an opportunity for earlier initiation of insulin therapy which may contribute to better glycaemic control”, Denis Raccah, Professor of Endocrinology, University Hospital Sainte Marguerite, France, added.

SoloSTAR® will be available for use with LANTUS®, the number 1 basal insulin analogue sold worldwide with a once-daily 24-hour action profile, and the rapid acting insulin analogue APIDRA®, which offers a faster onset of action and a shorter duration of action than regular human insulin.

Concludes John Fagan, General Manager, sanofi-aventis south africa: “Over the years, sanofi-aventis has demonstrated a permanent commitment in advancing diabetes treatment. The launch of LANTUS® SoloSTAR® and APIDRA® SoloSTAR is therefore a significant milestone in the evolution of treatment options for diabetic patients.