The €3m Afrezza has contributed to Sanofi’s revenues since launch is unlikely to subdue growing concerns from commentators surrounding its partner MannKind which developed the inhalable insulin.
Sanofi-Aventis is investing a further $90m in its Chinese manufacturing facility and performing “the world’s largest diabetes genotyping project” in partnership with the Chinese Diabetes Society.
Merck Serono intends to forge ahead with severing its investment in
diabetes and either sell or partner out its existing research and
development (R&D) activities in this field, which it no longer
feels able to compete in effectively.
Swiss firm Novartis today announced that it has contacted
regulators regarding the safety of the 100mg dose of its recently
approved Type II diabetes drug, Galvus (vildagliptin).
In a shock announcement at its third quarter financial results,
Merck KGaA has said it will stop its diabetes research and partner
out any current programmes.
Although obesity dramatically increases the risk of developing Type
II diabetes, nobody knew why until researchers found a protein that
links the two diseases, opening up the possibility of developing
drugs that prevent diabetes.
Thursday was a good day for Novartis as EU regulators issued
positive opinions on no less than three of the company's drug
products, for the treatment of Alzheimer's, osteoporosis and Type
II diabetes.
US diabetics will soon have a new alternative to the predominant
needle and syringe method of administering insulin, now that the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval
to Sanofi-Aventis' Lantus SoloStar.
Sanofi-Aventis is gearing up for the European roll-out of a new
disposable insulin pen designed to address a broader spectrum of
patient needs than currently available injection devices.
Alantos Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase I trial for its lead
compound for diabetes, a disease that commands a global market
estimated at $11bn (€8.6bn) and is expected to grow by more than 50
per cent by the end of the decade.
