Key Facts About Basaglar: A Less Expensive Long-acting Insulin
If you’ve been using a long-acting insulin like Lantus, you might have heard about a friendly competitor called Basaglar which is coming soon to pharmacies. Basaglar is insulin glargine known as a biosimilar (also called a follow-on biologic). Because of the manufacturing process it isn’t considered a generic, but there are no differences from Lantus in regard to safety, purity and potency. To get to know Basaglar better, here are some details you’ll want to be aware of. What is the difference between a biosimilar and a generic? Generic drugs are copies of a brand name drug, and their manufacturing process can be replicated exactly through chemical reactions. Biologics are made using manufacturing processes and living organisms that are unique to each manufacturer. Therefore, it is not really possible to make an exact copy of a biologic. For an in-depth look at the definition of biosimilar, see here. Is Basaglar less expensive than Lantus? The cost of Basaglar is estimated to be about 20% cheaper than Lantus. It is manufactured by Eli Lilly as a KwikPen. Basaglar won’t be sold in a vial form. Will my insurance switch me to Basaglar? In some cases, yes. CVS Health has announced that Basaglar will be on formulary in place of Lantus. Is it really equivalent to Lantus? Yes, the onset, peak and duration of action are almost identical. Will my dose be the same as the insulin I’m currently taking? Your healthcare provider will tell you exactly how to make the switch. In general, Lantus and Basaglar can be interchanged unit for unit. If you were on Levemir, the conversion will also be unit for unit. If you were taking Levemir twice a day, the total number of units will likely be given as one Basaglar injection. If you are switching from Toujeo or NPH, your dose might Continue reading >>
Prepare Your Patients For An Insulin Change For 2017
Mo st insurance plans will be dropping Lantus from formularies. Guest Post by David Kliff, Diabetic Investor Sometimes I’m amazed at how oblivious some people in this wacky world can be. Actually, I should say it really doesn’t amaze me given this is the wacky world of diabetes, which is full of clueless opinions. I mention this after some conversations on the nature of the insulin market. Yes, people are beginning to wake up to the fact (yes, those damn pesky facts again), that insulins have become a commodity. This is particularly true with long-acting insulins, of which there are now 5, one being a biosimilar. Lilly has the biosimilar, Basaglar, which is winning the war that counts: formulary position. Lantus, the current leader, isn’t just losing the war, it’s losing by a mile. Starting next year, when formulary changes go into full effect, Basaglar will become the long-acting insulin of choice. Not because it’s any better than Lantus — it isn’t. It’s the same as Lantus, only cheaper — which is exactly the point. Still, many seem to believe there will be pushback from physicians. Why would they switch any patient from Lantus to Basaglar, especially when Lantus works so well? First, as much as I hate to state the obvious, it really won’t be left up to the physician. It will be the payor and formulary position that wins, not the opinion of the physician. Think about the discussion a physician would have with a Lantus-using patient after these formulary changes take place. “Mr./Ms. Patient, you know I would like to keep you on Lantus. It’s been a great drug that has worked very well for you. Now I could keep you on Lantus, but there is a slight problem: your insurance company no longer covers Lantus. You can stay on Lantus, but I must warn you t Continue reading >>
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Diabetes Discussion Boards - Joslin Diabetes Center
Most people take levemir once a day like Lantus. There are some that find it beneficial to split the dose, but that does not mean it is the way for everyone. I think one needs to try it first and see how it works for them and then discuss splitting the dose with their doctor. We are not professionals and we are not here to give people medial advice. We are here to give opinions and provide support to each other. That said, I take Levemir once a day at bedtime and have absolutely no problem with it. As Ron said it is more predictable in activity and there are less lows. When I first started on it last January ('09) I was taking 68 units a day. However, since losing 72 pounds I am now down to 40 units and continuing to reduce the amount as I lose weight. Jen, I suspect you are a type 2? If so, type 2's tend to be more tolerant of variations in insulin activity, in that your pancreas can still control BG to some degree. However, type 1 diabetics are far less tolerant of an activity mismatch with carb digestion. I suspect not too many will get satisfactory control with 1 shot of Levemir per day for a basal. The other thing to remember is that Levemir is quite dose sensitive. The more you take, the longer it lasts. A small dose peaks early, while a large dose peaks later and is more sustained. Typically type 1's use far less insulin than a type 2, so the activity curve will be shorter and more peak like. In response to your post, I don't know what Type I am, I suspect II but I became diabetic following an acute attack of pancreatitis (which has since been diagnosed as chronic). Since pancreatitis causes damage to the pancreas It can kill the cells that secrete insulin. I'm finding however, that as I lose weight I am using the insulin I take more efficiently. Dave: Have you Continue reading >>
A Cheaper Version Of The Lifesaving Diabetes Medication Just Launched In The Us
A Type 1 diabetes patient holds up bottles of insulin.Reuters/Lucy Nicholson A new form of insulin just hit American markets. It's called Basaglar, and it is 15% less than the list price of Lantus and Toujeo, two long-acting insulins made by Sanofi Aventis, 21% less than the list price of Levemir, and 28% less than Tresiba, two long-acting insulins made by Novo Nordisk. Basaglar was approved in December 2015, but had to wait a year before launching on Thursday. A spokeswoman for Eli Lilly, the company that makes Basaglar and other insulins, told Business Insider that the list price for a pack of 5 pens is $316.85 — that's before any discounts, or factoring in what insurance might cover. It is part of a group of medications called "follow-on biologics" and together, they are expected to save the US billions of dollars over the next decade. Why there's no generic form of insulin For people living with Type 1 diabetes and some who live with Type 2, injections of insulin — a hormone that helps people absorb and process the sugar in food — are a necessary part of daily life. And insulin, in one form or another, has been around since the 1920s. But because it's made of living cells, it’s what doctors call a biologic product, and it's more complicated and difficult to manufacture than the medicines most often produced generically. That's why Basaglar isn't considered a generic, it's called a "follow-on biologic." Others taking this approach have gotten approved as biosimilars, and like Basaglar have come in at a slight discount — roughly 15% — off the list price of the original drug. To become a follow-on biologic, Basaglar had to show that its version of the drug was "sufficiently similar to Lantus to scientifically justify reliance," and the drug had to be tested Continue reading >>
Alternatives To Lantus Or Levemir?
Guest over a year ago Hello, I was on lantus for 1 year and had problems regulating my BG so my doctor switched me over to levemir. All of of a sudden I had problems with extremely low potassium levels. My doctors weren't sure what was going on. Come to find out low potassium is one possible side effect of levemir. Now, levemir works much better than Lantus so I'm wondering if there are any alternatives such that I won't have to go back to lantus? What other insulins should I (can I) use. Any info on the subject would be greatly appreciated. Anything at all. Thanks. An alternative to lantus would be humulin. Humulin is regular insulin that controls high blood sugar. It is a man-made insulin and is the same as human insulin and is a short-acting insulin. Often, humulin is used in combination with a medium or long-acting insulin. It can be used alone or with metformin. humulin vs lantus This man-made insulin product is the same as human insulin. It replaces the insulin that your body would normally make. It is a short-acting insulin. It works by helping blood sugar (glucose) get into cells so your body can use it for energy. This medication is usually used in combination with a medium- or long-acting insulin product. This medication may also be used alone or with other oral diabetes drugs (such as metformin). Levemir (detemir) acts longer than regular (humulin) and delievers a low but steady level of insulin. It can be used with shorter-acting insulins. It can also be used alone or with metformin or exenatide. Lantus can be used as an alternative to levemir. Lantus (glargine) is a man-made long-acting insulin similar to human insulin. It starts working more slowly and last for a longer time than humulin (regular insulin). There are other insulins and non insulin meds that Continue reading >>
Fda Approves New Insulin Glargine Basaglar – The First “biosimilar” Insulin In The Us
Twitter Summary: 1st ever “biosimilar” insulin approved in US – potential to come cheaper than other insulins, with launch in December 2016 Lilly/BI recently announced the FDA approval of its long-awaited biosimilar insulin glargine, Basaglar, for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Basaglar is biologically similar to Sanofi’s basal insulin Lantus (insulin glargine), including the same protein sequence and a similar glucose-lowering effect. While the FDA does not call it a “biosimilar” drug for regulatory reasons, it can essentially be thought of as an alternative form of Lantus. Pricing for Basaglar is unknown at this time (more on this below), and the drug will not be launching in the US until after December 15, 2016. Why are “biosimilar” insulin options exciting? Most notably, they could potentially be offered at lower costs than brand name insulins. Basaglar has already launched in several international countries (under the brand name Abasaglar) and is typically priced at a 15%-20% discount relative to Lantus in those markets. It’s not clear yet how the discounts for Basaglar will compare in the US, and how much less patients with insurance might pay. “Generic” versions of drugs in the US typically come at a 50-80% discount to the original product. But unlike most generic drugs, biosimilar insulins are much more expensive to manufacture, so it’s unlikely they’ll see that same level of discount in the US. Indeed, Novartis launched the first “biosimilar” drug approved in the US last September (not in diabetes), which came at a 15% discount. Still, we’ve heard great optimism that biosimilar insulin glargine will help patients facing higher insulin costs. At the IDF conference in December, Dr. Matthew Riddle suggested that of all the insulins new Continue reading >>
Lantus And Levemir: What’s The Difference?
Lantus and Levemir have a lot in common. Both are basal insulin formulas, which means that they last for a long time in the body and act as background insulin, with a slow feed that mimics the constant low output of insulin produced by a healthy pancreas. Both are insulin analogues, which means that their insulin molecules are analogous to human insulin, but engineered, or recombined, with slight differences that slow their absorption. Lantus is a clear formula made with glargine, a genetically modified form of human insulin, dissolved in a special solution. Levemir is also a clear formula, but it contains dissolved detemir, a different form of genetically modified insulin. Human insulin is made of two amino acid chains, called A and B, that have two disulfide bonds between them. In glargine, one amino acid has been switched out, and two extra amino acids have been added to one end of the B chain. The modifications make glargine soluble at an acidic pH, but much less soluble at the neutral pH that’s found in the body To make Lantus, first the glargine is produced by a vat of E. coli bacteria. Then it’s purified and added to a watery solution containing a little zinc and some glycerol; a dash of hydrochloric acid is also added to make it acidic, bringing its pH down to about 4. At that degree of acidity, glargine completely dissolves into the watery solution, which is why the vial is clear. After you inject it into your subcutaneous tissue, the acidic solution is neutralized by your body to a neutral pH. Because glargine is not soluble at a neutral pH, it precipitates out into a form that’s not soluble in subcutaneous fat, and there forms a relatively insoluble depot. From that pool, or depot, of precipitated glargine in the tissues, small amounts slowly move back Continue reading >>
Lantus Vs Levemir/ Cost, Effectiveness
Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please,join our community todayto contribute and support the site. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Not really sure if I should be posting here, or in the introduction section. I'm kinda upset, as I read many of the posts here.. .. My last A1c was like 10.5 I'm on 60 units of Lantus a night & doc wants me to increase it more. I see so many here are only on like 10-30 units a night & are maintaining well. I know I need to take drastic steps to improve my bs numbers. I hear that losing weight is hard with Lantus. I keep having to increase it more & more. If I lose any weight (can never get past a 10 lb weight loss), but I give up after 3 weeks, and in the 4th week, bam... gain it all back. So, I started to look online for replacement of this Lantus. All I see equivalent is the Levemir... Or going to some sort of a NPH linsulin & always doing 2 shots a day. I guess I won't mind 2 shots a day, but then that's all the more cost regarding insulin needles. So, does anyone know if Levemir is cheaper than Lantus? Some sites say the "replacement factor" is units per units... so, if I'm on 60 units Lantus, then it would be 60 units Levemir? Does levemir work as well? or do I need to split the dosages out? Doc wants me to increase 60 units of Lantus by 1 unit every other or every third day until my morning bs's are consistently under 100. He said occasionally up to 120 okay, but wants the increasing units to the 100 fasting bs mark, so that the higher is only occassional, & not the norm. Does that make sense? He anticipates that I will need to go all the way to 80 units a night.!.. my co-pay on the 60 units (2 vials a month) is already almost too much to bear.. with all the other meds & with hubby's me Continue reading >>
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You Have Other Sanofi Options To Help Meet Your Patients’ Blood Sugar Lowering Needs
Lantus® is a long-acting insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lantus® should be administered once a day at the same time every day. Limitations of Use: Lantus® is not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. Contraindications Lantus® is contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients hypersensitive to insulin glargine or one of its excipients. Warnings and Precautions Insulin pens, needles, or syringes must never be shared between patients. Do NOT reuse needles. Monitor blood glucose in all patients treated with insulin. Modify insulin regimen cautiously and only under medical supervision. Changes in insulin strength, manufacturer, type, or method of administration may result in the need for a change in insulin dose or an adjustment in concomitant oral antidiabetic treatment. Do not dilute or mix Lantus® with any other insulin or solution. If mixed or diluted, the solution may become cloudy, and the onset of action/time to peak effect may be altered in an unpredictable manner. Do not administer Lantus® via an insulin pump or intravenously because severe hypoglycemia can occur. Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse reaction of insulin therapy, including Lantus®, and may be life-threatening. Medication errors, such as accidental mix-ups between basal insulin products and other insulins, particularly rapid-acting insulins, have been reported. Patients should be instructed to always verify the insulin label before each injection. Severe life-threatening, generalized allergy, including anaphylaxis, can occur. Discontinue Lantus®, treat and monitor until symptoms resolve. A reduction in the Lantus® dose may be re Continue reading >>
Levemir
LEVEMIR® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin]) Injection DESCRIPTION LEVEMIR® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) is a sterile solution of insulin detemir for use as a subcutaneous injection. Insulin detemir is a long-acting (up to 24-hour duration of action) recombinant human insulin analog. LEVEMIR® is produced by a process that includes expression of recombinant DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae followed by chemical modification. Insulin detemir differs from human insulin in that the amino acid threonine in position B30 has been omitted, and a C14 fatty acid chain has been attached to the amino acid B29. Insulin detemir has a molecular formula of C267H402O76N64S6 and a molecular weight of 5916.9. It has the following structure: Figure 1: Structural Formula of insulin detemir LEVEMIR® is a clear, colorless, aqueous, neutral sterile solution. Each milliliter of LEVEMIR® contains 100 units (14.2 mg/mL) insulin detemir, 65.4 mcg zinc, 2.06 mg m-cresol, 16.0 mg glycerol, 1.80 mg phenol, 0.89 mg disodium phosphate dihydrate, 1.17 mg sodium chloride, and water for injection. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may be added to adjust pH. LEVEMIR® has a pH of approximately 7.4. Continue reading >>
Levemir Vs Lantus: What's The Difference?
Levemir and Lantus are both long-acting forms of insulin that work for most of the day. Levemir Vs Lantus: Both human insulin analogs Levemir is a brand name for insulin detemir. Levemir takes at least one hour to start working (some sources state up to three hours), and its effects are dependent on the initial dosage given. Dosages of 0.1 units per kg may last only six hours whereas dosages equal to or greater than 0.8 units/kg last approximately 22 to 24 hours. Levemir has a relatively peakless profile but may be more slowly absorbed from the thigh compared to the deltoid (arm) and the abdomen after subcutaneous administration. Lantus is the brand name for insulin glargine. Lantus takes approximately an hour to start working and lasts for an average of 24 hours; however, there is some variability and in some people, it may only act for just over 10 hours, whereas for others it may last longer than 24 hours. Lantus releases consistently, so doesn't really have a peak effect. Levemir Vs Lantus: Differences in formulation account for some differences in action Both Levemir and Lantus are made by modifying human insulin. Both should be clear solutions before they are injected (discard if cloudy). Insulin glargine (Lantus) tends to be absorbed more slowly and for longer than detemir ( Levemir) because it is not as soluble once injected just under the skin. This means it has a longer duration of action and an insignificant peak effect - instead, it delivers consistent blood levels of insulin. Insulin detemir (Levemir) remains soluble after injection but is able to bind to protein in the tissue and bond to itself which gives it a prolonged action. How do Levemir and Lantus compare to NPH insulin? Both Levemir and Lantus were created to improve on NPH insulin, and to better m Continue reading >>
What Is The Difference Between Levemir Vs Lantus Insulin?
Both levemir and lantus are basal insulins, meaning that once injected, they keep working in the background to keep your blood glucose levels under control during the entire day. They are both used to treat high blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. As long acting insulins, both medications work longer compared to other insulins, and are used to replace the natural hormone in the body. These medicines are not supposed to be used together to treat patients with diabetes. Even though these drugs are both long acting insulins, they should not be used interchangeably without the doctor’s advice. Both drugs have different formula concentrations, meaning that there is a small difference in how they work to control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Because of this, they must be prescribed separately and not together. Whether you are prescribed to take levemir or lantus, they should work well in controlling your blood sugar. The medications usually come in regimens that includes short acting insulins or rapid acting insulins. What is Levemir? Levemir or insulin detemir is a man made form of insulin which works by lowering blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. Do not use this medication if it has changed colors. Patients can use this medication once or twice every day. In case it is taken once, it should be administered with the evening meal. If taken twice, you should take the dose with the morning meal and evening meal. The evening dose should be 12 hours after the morning dose. What is Lantus? Lantus or insulin glargine is a long acting acting insulin which works by replacing human insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Insulin glargine comes in injectible form and is usually administered subcutaneously in the upper arm, stomach or thigh. Simi Continue reading >>
Toujeo Vs Levemir And Lantus
I need to get an RX for levemir as a back up in case my pump fails to the point of delivering insulin. But levemir isnt on the formulary now. So my choices are lantus or toujeo unless I try to get levemir approved with a medical necessity letter. I was able to get novolog approved in the past and found out its now on the plan again. So I guess it could change for levemir too. Ive used lantus before that may be the best thing if I cant get levemir approved. Im nervous about having toujeo as a back up since I never used it and I think its longer acting. I wouldnt want to switch to something Im not used to at all in an emergency situation. The shots for basal were never stable for me and Im surprised I survived mdi for as long as I did due to lows. The way my Bg jumped around was even worse than now. Im just wondering how you managed on toujeo and how your Bg differed. I know its going to be different for me of course but it may help to get some feedback. Does it really last for 24 hrs etc and so on? Or is that the other newer longer acting insulin. I was scared of Toujeo when I tried a pump vacation, but the Lantus failed me too. I definitely was going to end up needing two shots a day of Lantus. Gave up and ended up being allowed to get a new pump. Thanks Laura. When you say it failed you Im not sure what you mean because of the two shots? I had to split my doses for both lantus and levemir too. It would only be until I could get a replacement pump shipped if the pump failed to deliver insulin. Ive had three replacements so far but the pumps still delivered insulin so I used them until the replacement came. Im glad you got a new pump. Call me crazy but in all my years pumping, I have never had a backup of long acting insulin. The one time it took overnight to get a repl Continue reading >>
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Levemir Vs. Lantus: Similarities And Differences
Levemir and Lantus are both long-acting injectable insulins that can be used for long-term management of diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body by the pancreas. It helps convert the glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream into energy. This energy is then distributed to cells throughout your body. With diabetes, your pancreas produces little or no insulin or your body is unable to use the insulin correctly. Without insulin, your body can’t use the sugars in your blood and can become starved for energy. The excess sugar in your blood can also damage different parts of your body, including your blood vessels and kidneys. Everyone with type 1 diabetes and many people with type 2 diabetes must use insulin to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Levemir is a solution of insulin detemir, and Lantus is a solution of insulin glargine. Both are basal insulin formulas. That means that they work slowly to lower your blood sugar levels. They’re both absorbed into your body over a 24-hour period. They keep blood sugar levels lowered for longer than short-acting insulins do. Although the formulations are slightly different, Levemir and Lantus are very similar drugs. There are only a few differences between them. Children and adults can use both Levemir and Lantus. Specifically, Levemir can be used by people who are 2 years or older. Lantus can be used by people who are 6 years or older. Levemir or Lantus can help with daily management of diabetes. However, you may still need to use short-acting insulin to treat spikes in your blood sugar levels and diabetic ketoacidosis (a dangerous buildup of acids in your blood). Learn more: All about diabetic ketoacidosis » Administration Both Levemir and Lantus are given through injection in the same way. You can gi Continue reading >>
Ada: Once-daily Dosing With Lantus And Levemir Similar For Type 2 Diabetes But Different For Type 1
WASHINGTON, June 13 — Long-acting insulin analogs Levemir (insulin detemir) and Lantus (insulin glargine) appear equal for once-daily use in type 2 diabetes, yet Lantus may have an edge for type 1 diabetes. The two head-to-head comparisons of the metabolism activity of the long-acting insulins, presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting here, are virtually the first reports of their kind for these drugs. Both agents are FDA-approved. "We do not have any pharmacodynamic studies in type 2 diabetes for either insulin," said Tim Heise, M.D., CEO of clinical science at Profil Institute for Metabolic Research in Neuss, Germany, "and up to this conference we had no direct comparison between these two long-acting agents at all." In an oral presentation, Dr. Heise reported the results of a study that randomized 13 patients with type 2 diabetes to Levemir and 14 to receive Lantus. Both agents were given at 0.4, 0.8, and 1.4 U/kg doses to "cover the dose range" used by clinicians, with periodic 24-hour glucose monitoring under glucose clamp conditions. "There is no difference in the time-action profiles between glargine and detemir with regard to the duration of action and mean metabolic impact," he said. The groups had similar baseline characteristics with an average body mass index (BMI) of about 30 kg/m and an HbA1c of about 7.6%. The researchers included only patients with fasting C-peptide levels below 1 nmol/L to eliminate endogenous insulin production as a confounding factor. Also, all participants were male, which Dr. Heise said was to control for the differences in glucose metabolism that occur during the menstrual cycle. The researchers found that "there is really no difference" in glucose infusion rates between the Lantus and Levemir. The only differe Continue reading >>
