NEW NOVO NORDISK INSULIN ALMOST HERE

Novo Nordisk, a world leader in insulin and diabetes care, has been developing a new quick-acting insulin, to be known as Insulin Aspart in the U.S., and as NovoRapid elsewhere. Last August, NovoRapid was submitted to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency for review, and on September 16, 1998, Novo Nordisk submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Agency for Insulin Aspart.

Novo Nordisk describes Insulin Aspart as: "A rapid-acting insulin product that is intended for injection immediately before meals. As with any insulin, the dose and timing of doses depend on blood sugar level and known individual response to a given type of insulin. The rapid action of Insulin Aspart leads to significantly reduced variability in blood sugars compared to regular human insulin in the period immediately following a meal."

Specific details of this insulin's action, and how it differs from its competitors, will emerge once the FDA approval process is completed. Company documents state Novo Nordisk is developing "a series of insulin analogue products." Insulin Aspart is the first to appear.