Sanofi launches specially designed ‘made in India’ re-usable insulin pen - AllStar™
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Only multinational company in India with (a) a balanced portfolio of
orals and insulins (b)one of the longest running national patient
counseling programs and now…. (c) a chic indigenously manufactured
re-usable insulin pen with 10-in-1 features, specially designed for
Indians-
New Delhi, October 10, 2012: Sanofi
India Limited (formerly known as Aventis Pharma Limited) announced
today the launch of AllStar™, its first indigenously manufactured
re-usable insulin pen. Developed especially for Indian patients by
Sanofi’s Medical Device Development team at Frankfurt (architects of
Sanofi’s award winning devices such as the Solostar®, Clickstar®,
BGStar® and iBGStar™), AllStar™ is indicated for use of insulinized
patients using Sanofi’s insulin portfolio. The AllStar™ re-usable
insulin pen conforms to ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) standards and is equipped with state-of-the-art, unparalleled 10-in-1 features.
Insulin
therapy is a one of the cornerstones of diabetes management, and its
efficacy in early as well as late-stage diabetes is well-established.
Yet, the first choice of doctors in India for most diabetics has so far
been to attempt sugar control through OADs (Oral Anti-Diabetics), diet
control, exercise and lifestyle changes. One of the key reasons for
delaying control through insulin is the resistance and fear in patients,
of taking injections daily, particularly self-administering the same. AllStar™
is custom-made for patients in India. AllStar™ will help improve both
insulin initiation and compliance; and bring ease and reassurance to the
lives of Indian patients, giving them the convenience of international
standards at an affordable price.
Announcing the launch of AllStar™, Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director, Sanofi India & Vice President South Asia, Group Sanofi,
said, “Sanofi has always been at the forefront of diabetes research and
development and AllStar™ is a testament to our patient-centric
approach. For almost three years, Sanofi’s scientists worked closely
with our team here to develop a device that was ‘made in India, for India’.”
Dr. Ayyangar further added “AllStar™
heralds a new era of indigenous device manufacturing for Sanofi India,
which we hope to utilize for other devices in future.
‘The
launch of AllStar™ is a significant milestone in Sanofi India’s
diabetes growth story, and also underlines the Sanofi Group’s focus on diabetes, emerging markets and our regionalized approach to finding solutions that are adapted to local needs.“
Commenting on the genesis of this development, Susheel Umesh, Head of Commercial Operations, Sanofi India, said “In line with our mission to truly become a 360 degree partner in diabetes management, we always start with the patient,
to understand from them and their physicians what their real needs and
expectations are, and work towards introducing solutions to address those needs and expectations.
‘AllStar™
is the result of a successful collaborative multi-country effort within
the Sanofi Group that brought together technology, resources and
intellectual capital to help Sanofi India develop a pen that its
patients aspire for; one that combines convenience and affordability.”
Through a perception study done in July 2011[i],
Sanofi found that the most valued features of an insulin pen are ease
of use, readability of dose, reverse dialing and high quality. At that
time, the study group perceived AllStar™ as better than other pens in
the market on most parameters, with ease of use, lighter, smaller and
slimmer design being the key differentiators.
Speaking on the AllStar™ pen’s technical aspects, Dr. Volker Korger, Head - Diabetes Device Projects, (MED Frankfurt) Sanofi, shared that, “AllStar™ is a combination of sleek design styling and sophisticated technology. We brought together Sanofi’s award winning Solostar® design team in Germany and UK to make AllStar™, the lightest reusable insulin pen in India. The German team contributed its renowned
expertise in quality medical devices, and from Taiwan we included
accurate tooling, as in a device such as this, extraordinary accuracy is
most vital in even the smallest of components. Finally, the
manufacturing is being done in India - well recognized today for
producing high-precision components.”
With
close to 62 million diabetic patients, of whom many are either
undiagnosed or uncontrolled because of poor compliance, diabetes is a
major health problem in India. Given the social and economic impact of
diabetes, it is important to make concentrated efforts to help create
awareness about diagnosis, management and treatment of diabetes and
further, to re-inforce among physicians and patients the necessity of
preventing complications in diabetic patients through early insulin
therapy.
Dr.
S.K Wangnoo, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Apollo
Centre for Obesity Diabetes and Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo
Hospitals
said, “Various studies have established the importance of early insulin
therapy in the management of diabetes. Key to ensuring better
compliance and management at the patient level is providing them with
convenient solutions. AllStar™, a state-of-the art device for the
administration of insulin, will provide Indian patients with the ease of
self-administration, and bring comfort and efficacy into their lives.”
AllStar™
is supported by a patient support team of certified diabetes educators
to assist patients under guidance of treating physicians, and a
toll-free number. The re-useable AllStar™
will be available for use with Sanofi’s insulins – Lantus® and Insuman®
- on doctor’s prescription at all leading chemists and distributors
across India.
Susheel Umesh added, “We
are striving to help people manage the complex challenge of diabetes by
delivering and enabling access to a range of innovative, personalized
solutions, because we want people to live ‘beyond’ diabetes, to achieve
aspirations and make the most of everyday!”
About Diabetes: Diabetes
is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce
or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar)
from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. More than 230
million persons worldwide are living with the disease and this number is
expected to rise to a staggering 350 million within 20 years. World
Health Organization (WHO) estimates that India had 32 million diabetic
patients in the year 2000 which would increase to 80 million by 2030.
The International Diabetes Federation has reported that the 50.8 million
diabetic patients in India in 2010 would rise to 87 million by 2030.
These observations clearly evince that diabetes has become a major
health problem in India.
About Sanofi: Sanofi,
a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and
distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has
core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms:
diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases,
consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is
listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
In
India, Sanofi operates through five entities − Sanofi India Limited
(previously known as Aventis Pharma Limited), Sanofi-Synthelabo (India)
Limited, Sanofi Pasteur India Private Limited, Shantha Biotechnics
Limited and Genzyme India Private Limited.
About Sanofi Diabetes:
With
a century of experience in Diabetes, Sanofi stands committed to improve
the lives of people with diabetes. Through its various incarnations,
Sanofi has led the field in insulin manufacturing as well as in diabetes
research and development: from the first manufacture of insulin
(one of its predecessor companies, Hoechst, was the original company to
produce insulin in 1923, after the discovery by Frederic Banting and
Charles Best in Canada that insulin could be extracted and initially
used to treat children with Type 1 diabetes ) through to the development
of Lantus® (the first company to produce a long-acting basal
insulin analogue) launched a decade ago and up to the present day,
where it is now investigating the possibility of regenerating the
insulin-producing cells in the body.
In
addition to its insulin products, Sanofi has a range of award-winning
delivery devices, oral therapies – on the market and in development –
and innovative blood glucose monitoring systems, so that, together with
its personalized services, Sanofi can offer a patient-centric
partnership to people with diabetes.
Aligned
to the Sanofi Group’s commitment to diabetes, Sanofi Diabetes India
strives to become a true 360 degree partner for patients and healthcare
professionals, offering a complete range of innovative and integrated
solutions.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Ruchita MEHRA
Head – External Communications
Tel: +91 98209 86056/ 022-28278233
Email: ruchita.mehra@sanofi.com
Nikita MERCHANT
Assistant Manager - Marketing Communications
Tel: +91 9819071300
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