INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 7 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced the availability of a smaller insulin vial, the first in the United States containing 3 mL (300 units) of insulin, for people with diabetes being treated in a hospital.
Advertisement
The new smaller vial - for Lilly's Humalog® (insulin lispro injection [rDNA origin]) and Humulin® R-U100 (regular insulin human injection, USP [rDNA origin)]) - is intended to provide hospitals more flexibility when evaluating insulin storage, delivery and distribution options.
Advertisement
A typical vial of insulin contains 10 mL, or 1,000 "units" of insulin. Based on customer feedback and the average length of stay in the hospital for patients with diabetes, Lilly developed this new option to help meet the needs of hospital customers.
Lilly will begin providing the new smaller vial to hospitals in January 2010. The company will also continue to provide the traditional 10 mL insulin vial, as well as additional delivery options for hospital patients, including Humalog® KwikPen(TM), a pen injection device that comes prefilled with Humalog insulin, and the original Humalog prefilled pen.
"Lilly is committed to providing solutions for the ever-changing needs of our hospital customers and patients receiving care in the hospital. This new 'small vial' is another example of a tool Lilly is delivering to our customers to help provide solutions for the complexities of treating the epidemic of diabetes here in the U.S.," said Matt Beebe, Lilly's U.S. insulin brand team leader. "Partnering with our institutional customers, we believe hospitals will find it to be a valuable option when evaluating their insulin storage, delivery and distribution needs."
To learn more about insulin delivery devices for use with the Humalog brand of insulins, visit www.humalog.com.
Who should use Humalog?
Humalog (insulin lispro injection [rDNA origin]) is for use in patients with diabetes to control high blood sugar and should be used with longer-acting insulin, except when used in combination with sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes.
What is some important safety information I should know about Humalog?
Starting or changing insulin therapy should be done cautiously and only under medical supervision.
Humalog should not be used during episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or if you are allergic to anything in Humalog.
Humalog is an injectable, fast-acting insulin. Humalog starts working faster than other insulins that contain regular human insulin. Take Humalog within 15 minutes before eating or right after eating a meal. Check your blood sugar levels as told by your healthcare professional.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to take a longer-acting insulin in addition to Humalog (except when using an external insulin pump). If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be taking diabetes pills and/or a longer-acting insulin in addition to Humalog.
The safety and effectiveness of Humalog in patients less than 3 years of age have not been established. There are no adequate and well-controlled clinical studies of the use of Humalog in pregnant or nursing women.
Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar is the most common adverse effect associated with insulins, including Humalog. Low blood sugar can happen suddenly, and symptoms may be different for each person and may change from time to time. Know your symptoms of low blood sugar. Severe low blood sugar can cause seizures and be life threatening. Follow your healthcare professional's instructions for treating low blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare professional if low blood sugar is a problem for you.
Other Side Effects
Other potential side effects associated with the use of insulins include: low blood potassium, weight gain, changes in fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can happen at the site of injection and over the whole body. Whole-body allergic reactions are less common, but may be life threatening.
For other important information, click to view full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.
Please see full user manual that accompanies your Humalog KwikPen.
About Lilly Diabetes
For more than 85 years, Eli Lilly and Company has been a worldwide leader in pioneering industry-leading solutions to support people living with and treating diabetes. Lilly introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923, and remains at the forefront of medical and delivery device innovation to manage diabetes. Lilly is also committed to providing solutions beyond therapy - practical tools, education and support programs to help overcome barriers to success along the diabetes journey. At Lilly, the journey of each person living with or treating diabetes inspires ours. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company, a leading innovation-driven company, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.
Humalog® and Humalog® KwikPen(TM) are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company and are available by prescription only. Humulin® R Regular is a trademark of Eli Lily and Company.
P-LLY
(LOGO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
