Biocon Limited, India’s pioneering biotechnology company, announced the launch of BASALOG a long acting (24 hours) peak less human insulin analogue, Glargine. The product is now available in India in 10 ml and 3 ml vials.
?Diabetes is a debilitating disease that is pervading global populations like a pandemic with India at its epicenter. 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.
BASALOG (Glargine) is a significant advance in diabetic treatment which is effective for 24 Hrs while continuing to maintain the basal level of insulin required throughout the period thus helping to control glucose levels in the blood, especially Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG). 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 hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hence, BASALOG offers better glucose control with the compliance of a single shot.
Rakesh Bamzai, President Marketing, Biocon, added, ?Biocon?s research efforts over the years have yielded many important bio-therapeutics for Diabetes and other life threatening diseases. 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 (Fasting Plasma Glucose) and HbA1c. HbA1c is a diagnostic test to ascertain the patient?s blood glucose control for a 3 month period. The HbA1c in a normal individual ranges between 4 to 6%. In a diabetic, HbA1c of less than 7% is considered as effective control and hence the target in a diabetic is to achieve HbA1c of less than 7%. Every 1% reduction in HbA1c leads to 20% 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 (Glargine) as an early regimen for diabetics in order to achieve better glucose control. Many doctors avoid prescribing insulin due to the uncertainty of resulting hypoglycemia and non-compliance of patients who avoid insulin due to the trauma of multiple injections. Glargine diminishes the incidences of hypoglycemia as it acts for 24 hrs with a single shot. It is believed that treatment with long acting insulin analogues like Glargine will allow better metabolic control, thereby resulting in a better quality of life & treatment satisfaction. It is also believed that disease progression is significantly slowed down with fewer advanced diabetic complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and cardiac complications like hypertension, myocardial infarction or stroke.
