According to the Chicago Tribune, French drug maker Sanofi holds the #2 spot in the worldwide market of diabetes medications – a $43 billion-a-year pharmaceutical marketplace. There are four elite players vying for the top spot with their newest diabetes formulations.
Novo Nordisk is currently occupying the #1 slot for sales with competition rolling in from Eli Lilly (#3), AstraZeneca, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Sanofi is set to lose its patent on the aging but incredibly popular insulin – Lantus.
According to the New York Times this big business is only expected to grow – “All are eyeing a fast-growing global market in which the total number of diabetes sufferers is projected to leap to well over half a billion by 2030.” There is an incredible amount of money to be made here.
Sanofi has an improved version of Lantus in the works – their team is hoping they can follow through with another home run medication. They are working on a formulation that will last longer and have a lower incidence of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Improvements in insulin’s safety profiles are always welcomed with open arms by those of us living with diabetes.
Interested parties will get a peek at Sanofi’s progress at the June 21-25 American Diabetes Association (ADA) annual meeting in Chicago where their data is unveiled to the public. If positive, the results could prove Sanofi is in good shape to protect its market position, states the Chicago Tribune. Scientific sessions from the ADA meeting can be viewed via the web just follow this link to the page.
Novo Nordisk has a new insulin approved in Europe called Tresiba but have been unable to get its approval in the U.S. – due to possible cardiac side effects. With this time delay, it may give Sanofi the upper hand to launch their newest insulin.
As diagnoses of type 2 diabetes rise around the globe medications to control it equate to big business.