Long-acting insulin launched

Danish drug-maker Novo Nordisk launched a new long-acting insulin in Dhaka on Thursday in its effort to retain its biggest share in Bangladesh’s growing diabetic drug market. The world’s biggest insulin producer enjoyed more than 80 per cent of Bangladesh’s insulin market until recent years when Bangladesh’s companies started to make the life-saving diabetic shot. Its current market share, fell to 70 per cent, was still “significantly” higher than in many other countries, said Camilla Sylvest, vice-president of its Oceania and South East Asia business area. With 10 per cent of the estimated 8.4 million diabetic patients use insulin in Bangladesh, the market size is more than Tk 180 million. Bangladesh’s drug control rules do not allow import of drugs if two local companies produce it, forcing Novo to make its insulin in a Bangladesh’s factory and keep prices competitive with the market price. But still they are allowed to import newer varieties of drugs which are not available in the market following drug control rules. Announcing the launch of the new insulin, Sylvest said Tresiba was such a product that acts for longer duration than usual insulin once injected, according to a news agency.