Bangalore, May 29, 2009
Biocon Limited, India's pioneering biotechnology company, today 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.
New Blood Glucose meter - Breeze 2: To be introduced soon
BIOCON announces the signing of an agreement with BAYER POLYCHEM (INDIA) LIMITED, (latter being subsidiary of German based BAYER HEALTHCARE) for marketing and distribution of their advanced, No Coding technology Blood Glucose Monitoring System, ‘Breeze 2’ with their insulin product portfolio.
Breeze2 will help ease monitoring of blood glucose levels with a more convenient system of a disc containing 10 strips which needs to be loaded just once. The patient can then carry out 10 tests thus avoiding the need to load individual strips each time. This ensures better compliance and facilitates regular blood sugar checks.
Bayer HealthCare
Bayer HealthCare combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Bayer Schering Pharma, Consumer Care and Medical Care. More than 50,000 people are employed by Bayer HealthCare worldwide.
About Biocon Limited
Established in 1978, Biocon Limited is one of India's premier biotechnology companies. Together with its group companies. Biocon forms a fully integrated biotechnology enterprise, specializing in biopharmaceuticals, custom research and clinical research which deliver products and solutions to partners and customers across the globe. Biocon launched the world's first recombinant human insulin, INSUGEN® in November 2004 using Pichia expression and India's first indigenously produced monoclonal antibody BIOMAb-EGFR™.
A leading US trade publication, Med Ad News, in its 2007/08 listings has ranked Biocon 20th amongst the leading biotechnology companies in the world and the 7th largest Biotech employer in the world. Biocon recently received the 2009 BioSingapore Asia Pacific Biotechnology Award for Best Listed Company.
Focusing on unmet medical needs in cancer, diabetes and inflammatory diseases, Biocon offers novel therapies on a platform of affordable innovation. Biocon’s strategic licensing partnerships provide market penetration and global access to deliver breakthrough therapeutics to millions of patients the world over.
About Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a serious autoimmune condition, in which the body attacks its own insulin producing cells and is characterised by a sudden and dramatic onset, usually in youth. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream. This leads to increased hunger.
In addition, the high levels of glucose in the blood causes increased urination. This leads to excessive thirst. Within 5 - 10 years, the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are completely destroyed and the body cannot longer produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age. Many patients, however, are diagnosed after age 20.The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role. People with type 1 diabetes can't make their own insulin and hence they must take insulin every day. Insulin is usually injected under the skin. In some cases, a pump delivers the insulin continuously.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Person with Diabetes Type 2 diabetes has one or both of the two
problems:
1. Not enough insulin is being produced.
2. The insulin is not working properly - this is known as insulin resistance.
The vast majority of patients who develop Type 2 diabetes are overweight and unfit. This type of diabetes tends to appear later on in life. Of late, there have been more and more cases of people in their 20s developing Type 2 diabetes, but it is still relatively uncommon.
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