Lilly launches Humalog Junior KwikPen

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly’s latest introduction is making half-unit doses of insulin easier for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The company on Wednesday launched its Humalog Junior KwikPen, which it said is the only prefilled, disposable half-unit insulin pen. The Food and Drug Administration approved the product in June to treat diabetes.

“Learning how to inject insulin can be overwhelming, especially for newly diagnosed children and their caregivers. People often feel shock and anxiety, and may struggle with the reality of fitting diabetes into daily life,” Lilly VP global medical affairs Dr. Sherry Martin said. “We hope to help take away some of the worries about the injection process with Humalog Junior KwikPen. Because it is prefilled, there are fewer steps for people to learn, and the half-unit increments make dosing more precise.”

The pen is shorter and lighter than other half-unit pens, and it provides a disposable option where previously half-unit doses were only available through reusable pens that require cartridges to be removed and reloaded, Lilly said.