Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk has launched the world’s fastest acting insulin for the patients living with diabetes in Bangladesh.
The fast-acting insulin ‘aspart’ will work four times faster than short acting human insulin, while two times faster than conventional rapid acting insulin. It can be used in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The price is only Tk60 or Tk70 more than the traditional insulin.
This new insulin can be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding period. The announcement came at a press meet in Dhaka on Thursday.
“People living with diabetes often struggle to control blood glucose specially around mealtimes. This can be extremely challenging and may result in devastating diabetes-related complications," said Prof Dr. AK Azad Khan, President of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS).
“The innovation of fast-acting insulin will help patients to achieve desired blood glucose level with less hypoglycaemia and other diabetes-related complexities,” he said.
“I am really pleased to see that Novo Nordisk is playing a vital role in introducing research and development based innovative insulin for helping millions of diabetic patients in the country,” said Winnie Estrup Petersen, Danish Ambassador in Dhaka. “I believe that Novo Nordisk’s local production facility will provide further access to quality insulin to patients”. Md Sayef Uddin, Secretary General, the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, extolled Novo Nordisk and said the insulin maker is closely working with them in creating nationwide awareness and education beside introducing innovative insulin.
“As a global leader in diabetes care, we are committed to introduce innovation for the benefit of people living with diabetes in Bangladesh,” said Dr. MihailBriciu, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk Bangladesh.
“We are continuously researching innovative solutions to improve diabetes management and more innovative treatment options are in the pipeline for people living with diabetes in Bangladesh,” Mihail added.
Novo Nordisk in partnership with Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has been manufacturing insulin in Bangladesh since 2012.
Transcom Distribution Company distributes the insulin across the country. Dr. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Head of Medical and Quality of Novo Nordisk; Md. TanbirSajib, Head of Commercial Affairs of Novo Nordisk; Gazi Towhid Ahmed, Public Affairs Manager of Novo Nordisk; and Mezba Ul Gaffar, Group Product Manager of Novo Nordisk were also present at the programme.