Sanofi-aventis' SoloSTAR Lantus insulin pen marketed in US

Sanofi-aventis has launched its Lantus SoloSTAR, a disposable insulin pen, on the US market.

SoloSTAR pre-filled with Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin]), the only 24-hour insulin approved exclusively for use once a day, for the treatment of hyperglycaemia in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

The product is also the only prefilled disposable insulin pen which permits patients to administer doses from one to 80 units, in one injection and offers a 25 per cent greater maximum capacity than other insulin pens.

Equivalence studies have revealed that the product operates with a lower injection force and requires 31 per cent less injection force than the Novo Nordisk FlexPen and 54 per cent less force than the Eli Lilly Humulin/Humalog pen.

Lantus SoloSTAR is also available in Australia. Previously, it was introduced in France and Germany in 2007 and is expected to be introduced in other countries in the near future.

Angela Moskow, associate vice president of diabetes marketing at sanofi-aventis, said: "Insulin pens are underutilised in the US, compared with other countries, even though they may offer more convenience and flexibility for people with diabetes. Lantus SoloSTAR demonstrates sanofi-aventis' commitment to designing devices based on insights from people with diabetes, to help meet their lifestyle demands. We are excited to offer this new device."