Novo Nordisk pushes on in EU and China

Novo Nordisk has been granted EU marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for its new premix insulin analogues (biphasic insulin aspart), NovoMix 50 and NovoMix 70.

NovoMix 50 and 70 make it possible to intensify insulin treatment over time; an important development considering the progressive nature of diabetes. The percentage of rapid-acting insulin has been raised from 30%, as in NovoMix 30, to 50% and 70% respectively, allowing physicians a new option for bringing patients to their glucose targets. All three products are administered in Novo's FlexPen insulin injection device, thus allowing easy transition to the new regimen.

According to Novo, 'a growing body of evidence suggests that it is important for people with diabetes to control their glucose levels directly after a meal, when they usually rise rapidly, as well as throughout the day. The NovoMix portfolio does exactly this: injected before or up to 15 minutes after starting a meal, the rapid-acting insulin controls the immediate glucose "spike", while the basal insulin ensures cover is provided throughout the day'.

Novo has also announced plans to expand its r&d center, based in in Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing, China, which will double the number of employees onsite from 30 to 60 in the next two to three years.

Established in 2002, the centre focuses on three areas - molecular biology, protein chemistry and cell biology - and has significantly added to Novo's expertise in bacterial expression of recombinant proteins and in protein chemistry, as well as helping in the identification of collaboration opportunities with Chinese centres of excellence.

Furthermore, the company's 30,000 ft² haemostasis research centre in North Brunswick, New Jersey, US is scheduled to open later this year.