Diabetes

PARIS — A new study indicated that two insulin products made by French drug maker Sanofi lower blood-glucose levels to a greater extent than premixed insulin, and with improvements in quality of life and less hypoglycemia.

Sanofi announced results of the 60-week study, which compared regimens, including Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin]) and Apidra (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin]).

SAN DIEGO — Novo Nordisk unveiled data from two extension studies at the 71st annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego that show its diabetes drug, when combined with other medications, may help patients achieve blood-sugar control.

The drug maker found that combining Victoza (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection) with metformin and/or sulfonylurea helped patients achieve blood-sugar control.

SAN DIEGO — An insulin product made by Eli Lilly appears likely to be more cost-effective than long-acting insulin analog, according to a study presented Friday at the American Diabetes Association’s 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego.

The company conducted a study comparing the cost-effectiveness of LAIA, insulin lispro mix 75/25 and insulin lispro mix 50/50 in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Lilly sells insulin lispro under the brand name Humalog.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Abbott Diabetes Care reported Friday that a shipment of blood-glucose monitoring products was reported stolen from a shipping carrier facility in Louisville, Ky., on June 19.

SAN DIEGO — Use of a drug for Type 2 diabetes made by Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals may lower patients’ risk of heart failure, according to a new study.

The study of more than 778,000 patients taking the injected drug Byetta (exenatide) found that adding the drug to a pre-existing diabetes regimen, especially if that regimen included insulin, was associated with reduced likelihood of heart failure. Results were presented Saturday at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego.

NEW YORK — Prices for the top 10 most prescribed branded diabetes drugs have risen faster at Walmart and Kmart than at other retailers, according to a published report.

Citing a recent study by researchers at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, Reuters reported that Walmart raised prices for branded diabetes drugs by 32% between 2008 and 2010, compared with 21% for the industry as a whole — including independent and chain retail pharmacies and mail-order companies. Kmart raised prices by 35%.

BOSTON — Nipro Diagnostics is building around its co-branded blood-glucose meter with a line of glucose-control products, including its TruePlus glucose shot.

The entire line also includes a glucose tablet product, a glucose gel and a diabetes-friendly multivitamin. But it's the diabetes-friendly energy shot that should garner the most interest, because that will be the acceptable delivery format for the next generation of diabetics.

NEW YORK — Despite the expansion of the diabetes drug market over the past 20 years, the rate of diabetic kidney disease has become more prevalent in the United States.