Prices for insulin in the US have been notoriously unaffordable. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently noted that insulin list prices can increase by double digits each year, price rises that ‘have raised serious concerns about the ability for many patients to access the insulin needed to survive’ [1].

High prices for insulin have led to a number of initiatives, including the launch of a lower priced insulin biosimilar from Eli Lilly [2] and an insulin prequalification programme from the World Health Organization (WHO) [3].

In recent news, US firm Lannett has announced positive results from the clinical trial of their insulin biosimilar. The trial was the first clinical study in humans to directly compare Lannett’s insulin glargine biosimilar to Lantus (marketed by Sanofi).

The trial involved administering a single subcutaneous dose of the drug in 27 healthy male volunteers. The results showed that the biosimilar was well tolerated and matched the reference product in terms of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety.

‘In a relatively short amount of time, we have built an impressive and significant amount of data that supports the biosimilarity of our insulin glargine product to the reference drug’, said Kristin Arnold, Lannett's Vice President of Research and Development.

CEO of Lannett, Tim Crew, said the data will allow them to progress to FDA approval: ‘We expect to meet with FDA in the coming months to plan next steps for the clinical advancement of our product, including the design of the biosimilar product development plan’.

Related articles
Lannett starts phase I trial for insulin glargine biosimilar in South Africa

Lannett to co-develop biosimilar insulin product with Chinese partner

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA to hold public meeting on access to affordable insulin [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Jan 17]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/FDA-to-hold-public-meeting-on-access-to-affordable-insulin
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Eli Lilly launches lower-priced insulin lispro [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Jan 17]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Eli-Lilly-launches-lower-priced-insulin-lispro
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. WHO launches insulin prequalification programme [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Jan 17]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/WHO-launches-insulin-prequalification-programme

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2020 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.