Novo Nordisk's new diabetes drug approved in US

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

COPENHAGEN (AFP) — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light for the sale of Levemir, a long-acting insulin analogue drug for the treatment of diabetes, Danish pharmaceutical maker Novo Nordisk revealed.

The drug has already been approved in 37 countries, including the European Union member states, said the company, a world leader in diabetes care.

"With the US approval of Levemir, Novo Nordisk is the only company in the US with a complete range of insulin" products, including rapid-acting NovoLog and premixed NovoLog Mix, it said Friday.

The product will now compete on the US market with Lantus, a similar drug made by French group Sanofi-Aventis.

The Danish company hopes to make Levemir available to the US market in the...