Lilly Launches KwikPen For Humalog And Humalog Mixtures
Indianapolis, IN - Completing an unprecedented year of innovation in insulin delivery devices, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) recently announced the launch of KwikPen, a new insulin pen prefilled with the Humalog (insulin lispro injection [rDNA origin]) brand of insulins. KwikPen is the third new insulin pen Lilly has launched in the last 12 months to help improve the daily management of diabetes, following the successful launches in 2007 of HumaPen MEMOIR -- the world's first digital insulin pen with memory -- and HumaPen LUXURA HD, a reusable pen for people who need insulin dosing in smaller increments.
KwikPen is a prefilled insulin pen designed to be convenient, easy to use and discreet. KwikPen's design can help fit a mealtime insulin, such as Humalog, into the daily lives and routines of people with diabetes.
KwikPen is now available by prescription in pharmacies prefilled with the Humalog brand of insulins, including Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25 (75% insulin lispro protamine suspension, 25% insulin lispro injection [rDNA origin]) and Humalog Mix50/50 (50% insulin lispro protamine suspension, 50% insulin lispro injection [rDNA origin]). The Humalog brand of insulins are indicated for use in patients with diabetes to control high blood sugar.
Lilly's original Humalog and Humalog Mixtures prefilled pens are also available. Patients using the original Humalog and Humalog Mixtures prefilled pen do not need to convert at this time unless they choose to do so in consultation with a health care professional.
"KwikPen, prefilled with Humalog and Humalog Mixtures, provides people with diabetes an exciting new option for accurate insulin dosing with the convenience of an easy-to-use prefilled pen," said Matt Beebe, Humalog Brand Leader, Lilly USA. "We know living with diabetes presents challenges day-by- day, meal-by-meal. At Lilly, our goal is to provide innovative therapies that help patients accurately and discreetly manage their use of mealtime insulin, as well as practical solutions beyond therapy that help patients live successfully with diabetes."
Last year, Lilly launched two innovative reusable pens -- HumaPen MEMOIR and HumaPen LUXURA HD -- to help address those diabetes management needs.
HumaPen MEMOIR, available by prescription nationwide for use with Humalog, presents sophisticated technology and features in a consumer-friendly "push- to-know" digital display that allows patients to record and review their last 16 insulin doses, including the priming doses. Many insulin users need multiple injections per day, so the ability to record doses and the time of the dose may help simplify the daily management of diabetes. This is especially important for both patients and physicians when developing a diabetes treatment plan that utilizes accurate recording of mealtime doses.
HumaPen LUXURA HD is a reusable pen that can deliver Humalog in half-unit increments from 1-to-30 units. Also available by prescription, this type of pen may be attractive to people with diabetes that do not need large amounts of insulin, or parents of some children with diabetes.
To learn more about insulin delivery devices for use with the Humalog brand of insulins, visit http://www.humalog.com.
Indication
Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 are for use in patients with diabetes to control high blood sugar. Humalog should be used with a longer-acting insulin, except when used in combination with sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Important safety information
Humalog insulins should not be used during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients sensitive to Humalog or one of its excipients. The safety and effectiveness of Humalog in patients less than 3 years of age have not been established. Safety and effectiveness of Humalog Mix50/50 and Humalog Mix75/25 in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. There are no clinical studies of the use of Humalog insulins in pregnancy or nursing mothers.
A potential side effect associated with the use of all insulins is low blood sugar. 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 health care provider's instruction for treating low blood sugar and regularly checking blood sugar levels. Other side effects may include: weight gain, low blood potassium, changes in fat tissue at the site of injection, and allergic reactions, both at the injection site and over the whole body. Whole body allergic reactions are less common, but may be life- threatening.
Starting or changing insulin therapy should be done cautiously and only under medical supervision.
Humalog and Humalog mixtures start lowering blood sugar more quickly than regular human insulin, allowing for convenient dosing immediately before a meal (within 15 minutes). Humalog can even be taken immediately after your meal. Because Humalog is a mealtime insulin, you may also need a longer-acting insulin to get the best blood sugar control (except when using an insulin pump).
SOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company