I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - Here is response

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BJM

BJM

Member Since 2010
I've asked the Lantus manufacturer to consider either creating a form of Lantus that is at a lower concentration than U-100, or to create a Lantus-specific diluent so that custom concentrations may be compounded.

I pointed out that the insulin requirements for infants and small animals such as cats, ferrets, and small dogs, require much smaller doses and that current syringes don't accommodate this very well.

It is d*mn difficult to titrate a dose other than .5 unit multiples, no matter what the photos of syringes show you. I just experimented using water in the syringe and couldn't get but 1 drop per half unit anyway!

If everyone on using Lantus suggests it to them, they might consider it.

Care to join me? Send your request here: https://contactus.sanofi-aventis.us/medicalinquiry.aspx
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - join me?

My frustration equals yours Large drug companies are all about the bottom line. and we are a tiny blip on their radar. i feel ya pain, but you're battling windmills.
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - join me?

The additional problem you may run into is that Lantus does not have a veterinary indication. Use in animals is entirely off-label.
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - join me?

Sienne and Gabby said:
The additional problem you may run into is that Lantus does not have a veterinary indication. Use in animals is entirely off-label.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I work for a huge pharmaceutical. Drugs produced by pharmaceuticals are only for Human-use and are FDA approved as such. Use of them in animals is "off label" and the pharmaceutical is not liable if any harm is done by off label use. Some pharmaceticals do have a animal health division which produces drugs for veterinary use only.

Compared to Human users of Lantus, pet owers are a very tiny part of the market. It's not worth a pharmacetical's time, effort, and money to poduce the same drug but in a special formulation and target it to the pet owner market.

My two cents :smile:
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - join me?

Good for you. :!: We'll never get something if, indeed, we don't make the effort not matter how futile we think. I'll join you & send a message & ask my vet about your idea. Interestingly, they do prescribe Lantus. The vets also periodically meet with the drug representatives & it seems that might be a perfect time to air the need for smaller doses.
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - join me?

Well, infants with type 1 diabetes need insulin, so actually, there could be a human market.
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - join me?

Some pharmaceticals do have a animal health division which produces drugs for veterinary use only.
Click to expand...

Yes they do...and to my knowledge Aventis (which already owns Merial) recently purchased Intervet from Scheering Plough (Intervet makes Caninsulin) together with Merck they have the largest animal health supplier of pharmicuticals.

Sanofi-aventis exercises its option to combine Merial with Intervet/Schering-Plough in a new equally-owned Joint Venture with Merck

Paris, France and Whitehouse Station, NJ. – March 9, 2010 – Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) announced today that sanofi-aventis has exercised its option to combine Merial with Intervet/Schering-Plough, Merck’s Animal Health business, to create a global leader in Animal Health.

The new joint venture will be equally-owned by Merck and sanofi-aventis. The formation of this new animal health joint venture is subject to execution of final agreements, antitrust review in the United States, Europe and other countries and other customary closing conditions. The completion of the transaction is expected to occur in approximately the next 12 months.
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - join me?

squeem3 said:
Sienne and Gabby said:
The additional problem you may run into is that Lantus does not have a veterinary indication. Use in animals is entirely off-label.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I work for a huge pharmaceutical. Drugs produced by pharmaceuticals are only for Human-use and are FDA approved as such. Use of them in animals is "off label" and the pharmaceutical is not liable if any harm is done by off label use. Some pharmaceticals do have a animal health division which produces drugs for veterinary use only.

Compared to Human users of Lantus, pet owers are a very tiny part of the market. It's not worth a pharmacetical's time, effort, and money to poduce the same drug but in a special formulation and target it to the pet owner market.

My two cents :smile:
Click to expand...
Very true. However, the point about never getting anywhere if we don't try is also valid. I don't think it can do any harm to point out to Aventis that there is a growing market for Lantus in the veterinary area and the issues that we, the consumer, are having using their product.

Personally, I think we may have a better chance of getting the syringe manufacturers to supply a smaller capacity syringe for our dosing needs. I know that they do MAKE smaller syringes, but they are not readily available.
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - Here is respon

Here is the entire response (note the section I colored blue):

"Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding Lantus.

Lantus is not approved for veterinary use and sanofi-aventis has not conducted studies regarding the treatment of diabetes in animals. However, there is a body of independently published literature citing the use of Lantus in animals (primarily cats). Specifically you suggested the development of a diluent that could be used for diluting Lantus to facilitate administration of very small doses. Unfortunately diluting Lantus may result in altered absorption characteristics and unpredictable results. Additionally, the stability of the diluted Lantus solution maybe compromised leading to the precipitation of Lantus insulin (i.e., forming a cloudy solution). We therefore do not recommend that Lantus be diluted. I will forward your other suggestion regarding a less concentrated formulation of Lantus.
Thank you again.

Regards,
Charles Fraser, MS, PharmD
Sr. Director, Medical Information Services, Metabolism
sanofi-aventis U.S.

P.O. Box 5925
55 Corporate Drive
Mail stop: 55A-420A
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Phone: 908-981-6813
Fax: 908-981-7893
charles.fraser@sanofi-aventis.com "

Now, when I asked about a Lantus-specific diluent, he didn't quite get that I understood the current inability to dilute it.

The idea of a less concentrated formulation wasn't dismissed outright, and may be the one to promote, through your friends and contacts in the medical profession who deal with diabetic children who need more precise insulin dosing in smaller amounts. Basically, if they become aware of a human market for it, they may pursue the development of a lower concentration (U-50 would be about right, with everyone attempting to do .25 unit dose adjustments).
 
Re: I contacted Sanofi-Aventis about Lantus - Here is respon

We should send them Dr. Rand's papers on the use of Lantus Glargine in cats! That could help!
 
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