Latest news with #HumanMixtard
News18
14-05-2025
- Business
- News18
'India's Top-Selling Insulin Isn't Going Away, 10% Users To Be Impacted': Novo Nordisk India MD
Last Updated: Vikrant Shrotriya said Human Mixtard is not being discontinued in India and will be supplied in vial presentation In a big relief for Indian patients, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk said it is not discontinuing India's largest-selling insulin brand, Human Mixtard. In recent weeks, concerns had been growing among diabetes patients over reports of a possible discontinuation of Human Mixtard. However, the largest-selling insulin brand will remain available in vials and not pens. In an interview, Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India, told News18, 'Novo Nordisk India confirms that it is not discontinuing Human Mixtard in India and will continue to supply it in vial presentation along with other human insulins, including Human Actrapid and Human Insulatard." The company's decision aligns with its global strategy. Globally, the Danish drug-maker is gradually winding up production of human insulin pens as it focuses on ramping up manufacturing of its latest and popular obesity or diabetes injections, including the blockbuster drug, Ozempic. 'In India, we will be phasing out human insulin in Penfill and FlexPen gradually by the end of this year. However, we continue to remain a very strong player with the largest insulin formulation offerings in India in all three generations, including human insulin, modern insulin and new generation insulin." Shrotriya explained that as part of the global portfolio consolidation, Novo Nordisk has decided to phase out certain insulin products or devices, 'which reflects our ongoing efforts to continually improve our existing product offerings and to ensure that maximum patients have access to the most effective and innovative treatments available, globally". 'This will create space needed in our global manufacturing network, rationalise and make it sustainable in the long run to bring efficiency in Novo Nordisk product offerings." Despite the price control, according to Pharmarack data, Mixtard was the eleventh most-selling brand in India in April, with its moving annual turnover (MAT) standing at Rs 766 crore. The second-largest insulin brand also comes from Novo Nordisk's portfolio, Ryzodeg, with a MAT of Rs 593 crore, followed by Sanofi's Lantus. Why is human insulin no longer a priority? In high-income countries or even in India, for those who can afford it, most people with diabetes now rely on modern insulin, as this kind of product offers more precise blood sugar control and greater flexibility in dosing. However, in low- and middle-income countries or for people who want cheaper options, human insulin remains the more widely used option. It's significantly cheaper and easier to produce. However, it doesn't always provide the same level of control or convenience which can be achieved by the latest insulin options. Who will be impacted & what are the options? The company believes that 'of the overall patients on insulin in India, only 10 per cent are impacted," with this decision to phase out penfill and flexpen versions. 'They will have the choice of transitioning to modern and new generation insulin or continue human insulin through vials or other treatment options available in the market, based on the recommendation from their physician," Shrotriya said, adding that 'the remaining 90 per cent of patients using insulin remain unimpacted". 'We continue our unwavering commitment towards people with diabetes by continuing to serve every 'one in two' patients in India who require insulin," he said. 'Accordingly, we are doing everything we can to liaise early with health authorities, support healthcare professionals, trade partners and patients in the transition to other treatment options." Currently, Novo Nordisk claims that it is the only company in India offering three generations of insulins to patients living with diabetes. Will continue to invest in R&D On being asked if this withdrawal will affect their overall insulin portfolio and research and development plans in India, Shrotriya explained that 'Novo Nordisk India contributes around 10 per cent to more than 40 global trials across therapy areas". 'We continue to invest in R&D to bring more innovations for the benefit of people living with serious chronic diseases, including improved insulins such as glucose-sensitive insulin, beta-cell replacement therapies and once-weekly insulin therapy."
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Novo Nordisk to continue India's largest insulin brand Mixtard supply in vials
Representative image Novo Nordisk has stated that its flagship insulin brand Mixtard will continue to be available in India in vial form, even as the company phases out other delivery formats such as Penfill cartridges. The announcement comes amid widespread concern over the discontinuation of some of the country's most-used insulin products. Responding to TOI reports that it was withdrawing Mixtard—India's top-selling insulin brand with annual sales of over Rs 800 crore, Novo Nordisk said in a statement. 'In order to meet increasing patient demand and ensure a stable supply of our medicines, we have decided to consolidate our insulin portfolio. This will create space needed in our global manufacturing network,' 'Hence, in this process, we are phasing out the Penfill. We acknowledge that this will be disruptive to people living with diabetes who rely on our treatments. However, by doing this now, we will increase the number of patients we reach with our insulin portfolio by many millions in the next decade," it added. This comes after reports that the Danish drugmaker was discontinuing Human Mixtard—India's largest-selling insulin brand—and other older-generation insulins from the market. The TOI report noted that Human Mixtard, a Rs 800 crore brand despite being under price control, along with products like Actrapid, Insulatard, Insulin Detemir, Levemir, and Xultophy, would no longer be available in popular delivery formats such as pre-filled pens and cartridges (Penfill and FlexPen). Read report: Novo Nordisk to phase out country's largest insulin brand The Danish pharmaceutical giant reassured patients that the insulin, along with other human insulins like Actrapid and Insulatard, will still be accessible in vials across India. These vials are administered through traditional syringes. According to documents cited in the earlier report, Novo Nordisk had informed its marketing partner Abbott India that the products would be withdrawn once current stocks were exhausted, a process expected to take around six months. The move is reportedly part of the company's global strategy to shift focus toward newer, more profitable treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy , which it plans to introduce in the Indian market this year. As part of this shift, earlier-generation insulin products are being gradually phased out worldwide. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Master Value & Valuation with ET! Learn to invest smartly & decode financials. Limited seats at 33% off – Enroll now!
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Novo Nordisk to continue largest insulin brand Mixtard supply in vials amid penfill device phase-out
Representative image Novo Nordisk has stated that its flagship insulin brand Mixtard will continue to be available in India in vial form, even as the company phases out other delivery formats such as Penfill cartridges, in a response to a Times of India report. The announcement comes amid widespread concern over the discontinuation of some of the country's most-used insulin products. Responding to reports that it was withdrawing Mixtard—India's top-selling insulin brand with annual sales of over Rs 800 crore—the Danish pharmaceutical giant reassured patients that the insulin, along with other human insulins like Actrapid and Insulatard, will still be accessible in vials across India. These vials are administered through traditional syringes. 'In order to meet increasing patient demand and ensure a stable supply of our medicines, we have decided to consolidate our insulin portfolio. This will create space needed in our global manufacturing network,' Novo Nordisk said in a statement. 'Hence, in this process, we are phasing out the Penfill. We acknowledge that this will be disruptive to people living with diabetes who rely on our treatments. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo However, by doing this now, we will increase the number of patients we reach with our insulin portfolio by many millions in the next decade. ' This comes after reports that the Danish drugmaker was discontinuing Human Mixtard—India's largest-selling insulin brand—and other older-generation insulins from the market. The TOI report noted that Human Mixtard, a Rs 800 crore brand despite being under price control, along with products like Actrapid, Insulatard, Insulin Detemir, Levemir, and Xultophy, would no longer be available in popular delivery formats such as pre-filled pens and cartridges (Penfill and FlexPen). Read report: Novo Nordisk to phase out country's largest insulin brand According to documents cited in the earlier report, Novo Nordisk had informed its marketing partner Abbott India that the products would be withdrawn once current stocks were exhausted, a process expected to take around six months. The move is reportedly part of the company's global strategy to shift focus toward newer, more profitable treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy , which it plans to introduce in the Indian market this year. As part of this shift, earlier-generation insulin products are being gradually phased out worldwide. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Master Value & Valuation with ET! Learn to invest smartly & decode financials. Limited seats at 33% off – Enroll now!
Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Novo Nordisk to phase out human insulin pens globally: Will it disrupt your dosage?
Thirty-seven-year-old Nupur Lalvani, who has been living with Type 1 diabetes since the age of eight, was dependent on insulin pens and had of late been a regular user of Novo Nordisk's largest insulin brand, Human Mixtard. But now that the Danish major is phasing it out, the move is expected to disrupt Indian markets, where it is the largest seller, and affect patients like Lalvani. As founder of Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation – among the largest patient-led communities for all types of diabetes – she has flagged concerns about changes in the insulin portfolio. 'Doctors say alternative brands are available. Switching brands and delivery devices is not a seamless process, especially for those managing diabetes every day on tight budgets,' she says. As per an ICMR-INDIAB study, around 11 million individuals with diabetes are on insulin. What is the pen all about? It is a pre-filled insulin pen containing insulin aspart, a fast-acting insulin analog. It helps glucose get into cells for energy, lowering blood sugar levels. It should be taken at the start of a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal, regularly and alongside a healthy diet, regular exercise and weight management. It's available in 3 ml cartridges and should be stored in a refrigerator (2-8°C) and not frozen. Does Novo Nordisk have a back-up in place? Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk released an official statement saying though it was phasing out the 100 IU Penfills, which are fast-acting insulin solutions to high blood sugar levels, and FlexPens, cartridges containing 100 units of insulin per millilitre designed for use with insulin pens, its 40 IU vials of Mixtard will continue to be available in India. Vials need separate insulin syringes. 'Other forms of insulin, including human insulins from Novo Nordisk, will continue to be available in vials and devices for patients across India. In order to meet increasing patient demand and ensure a stable supply of our medicines, we have decided to consolidate our insulin portfolio as this will create space needed in our global manufacturing network. Hence, in this process, we are phasing out the Penfill,' read the statement. Why is the company withdrawing its human insulin pen? Clearly the company is reworking priorities as it expands production of obesity and diabetes injectables. However, Lalvani says that since many people have relied on both Penfills and FlexPens, this discontinuation will disrupt patient experience. 'I have personally used 100 IU Actrapid for years, and now I'll have to search for alternatives,' she says. What about alternatives? Dr R M Anjana, president, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, says alternative brands are available. 'Many companies in the market are selling the same type of insulin. Also, the withdrawal applies only to insulin pens, whereas vials will still be available. While these are more inconvenient, they are less expensive. So we will have to wait and see how this pans out,' she adds.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
22-04-2025
- Business
- First Post
Will Indians get blockbuster weight-loss drugs at cost of cheaper insulin?
Novo Nordisk has said it is discontinuing selling its popular, best-selling insulin brand in India and will instead promote its new, blockbuster drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. But why is the company making the move? Will Indians now lose access to cheaper insulin drugs? read more Ozempic pens sit on a production line at Novo Nordisk's site in Hillerod. Reuters Will Indians get blockbuster weight-loss drugs at cost of cheaper insulin? That's what some are wondering after Novo Nordisk has said it is discontinuing selling its insulin brand in India. The decision from the Danish company could shake up the insulin market, say experts. It comes as the firm has decided to promote its newer blockbuster drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy around the world due to their higher profitability. But what happened? What do we know? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's take a closer look: What happened? The Times of India reported that multinational Novo Nordisk will stop selling its most popular insulin brand, Human Mixtard, in pens in India. Human Mixtard is the country's top-selling insulin brand. It is valued at Rs 800 crore in India. According to the report, the development could affect its top brands in the Rs 5,000 crore insulin market including Actrapid, Insulatard, Insulin Detemir and Levemir and Xultophy. These are sold primarily in the format of pre-filled disposable pen and cartridges (Penfill and FlexPen). Documents accessed by the newspaper showed that the company told marketing partner Abbott India the products would be withdrawn after current stocks are finished. The process could take around six months. A recent survey found 82 per cent of people with type 1 diabetes preferred to use pens rather than syringes and vials. Representational image/Pixabay However, the company plans to continue selling Human Mixtard, Actrapid and Insulatard in vials. Novo Nordisk is gradually ending production of human insulin pens, the drugmaker said. The company declined to comment on the timeline. 'Globally (human insulin pens) will be phased out over time and human insulin will be available only in vials,' a spokesperson said. Why is the company doing this? As per the report, the company is doing so as part of a wider strategy to prioritise newer, patented diabetes and weight loss therapies such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Booming sales of the Danish drugmaker's new obesity and diabetes medicines, delivered in injection pens, have propelled it to become Europe's most valuable company by market value, at about $572 billion. The company is also planning to bring these drugs to India in 2025. As per Outlook, Novo Nordisk wants to loss obesity drug Wegovy in India in the next few months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Novo's decision comes after rival Eli Lilly got the greenlight from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to launch Mounjaro in India. Novo Nordisk has said that the pens it uses for human insulin are not the same as those for its GLP-1 agonists Wegovy - a weight-loss treatment - and Ozempic, a diabetes drug. Boxes of Wegovy move along a packaging line at Novo Nordisk's facility in Hillerod, Denmark. File image/ Reuters But the delivery devices are similar, and the company said last year that broader use of Wegovy could lead, longer-term, to fewer people with type 2 diabetes needing to take insulin, a medicine Novo Nordisk has made for a century. However, the development could pose potential problems for patients. In wealthy nations like the United States, the majority of people with diabetes now use modern or analogue insulin, not human insulin, because the former enables better blood sugar control. In low-and-middle-income countries, human insulin is more commonly used than analogue insulin, which is more expensive and harder to make. As per The Guardian, despite the inventors of insulin selling it for $1 to ensure its availability, today just three companies make over 90 per cent of insulin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Those suffering from diabetes also say they much prefer using disposable pens to glass vials and syringes. Pens are easier and more precise to use than syringes for injecting insulin. The newspaper quoted a survey by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and T1International as finding that 82 per cent of people with type 1 diabetes preferred to use pens rather than syringes and vials. MSF and T1 International criticise Novo Nordisk's focus on manufacturing pens for its new medicines – which are not yet available in poorer nations. The groups see an emerging double standard in diabetes care: people with diabetes in high-income countries will not suffer from the halting of insulin pen production, because the company is continuing to make analogue insulin pens for those markets. 'Makes me angry' Patients in South Africa have already had to switch to vials – and they are not happy. Lecritia Roberts, 31, from South Africa, told the newspaper, 'It makes me angry. They don't understand how much harder they are making our lives.' 'Why are they making things more convenient for people who want to lose weight over people struggling with a disease?' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'When I was younger it was challenging, I didn't like injecting. Sometimes I injected it into the floor because I didn't like having the needle in my arms or thighs. If your break the vial and don't have any [saved] back, you basically don't have any insulin unless you buy it, but people in rural areas can't afford it.' Some diabetes patients in the US have this year pushed back against the company's decision to stop selling its long-acting insulin Levemir, which is an analogue insulin. They say the move has left them struggling to switch treatments. On Thursday, several hundred people gathered outside Novo Nordisk's office in Johannesburg to protest the company's discontinuation of human insulin pens, according to MSF, which helped organise the demonstration. Candice Sehoma, advocacy adviser for MSF's Access Campaign said, 'While the corporation continues to profit immensely by supplying newer, more expensive insulin and semaglutide pens ( Ozempic and Wegovy) to wealthier nations, its decision to withdraw human insulin pens may push people with diabetes in resource-limited settings, who rely on insulin for survival, to revert to using vials and syringes, which virtually nobody uses any more in high-income countries.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The profiteering on a lifesaving medicine that has been available for more than a century must stop now,' Sehoma added. 'We appreciate the impact our portfolio decisions will have on patients in South Africa and understand the frustration this may cause,' Novo Nordisk said in a statement. It added that it is in talks South African health authorities to ensure that diabetes patients continue to have access to treatment. With inputs from agencies
