sanofi-aventisSanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced results of two studies presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 46th Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. The first pooled analysis using patient-level data from randomized clinical trials demonstrated that adding Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA] injection) to patients with type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled on oral antidiabetic drug therapy (OADs), was associated with a greater reduction in A1C levels and lower incidence of any hypoglycemia versus all comparators (OADs, NPH, lispro, premix).

In the second pooled analysis of clinical studies, "patients with type 2 diabetes, who used Lantus® as monotherapy or added it to one baseline oral antidiabetic agent, demonstrated a greater reduction in A1C with lower risk of hypoglycemia than those taking two OADs, with a most significant reduction when Lantus® was added to metformin alone versus other OADs [sulfonylurea alone or sulfonylurea plus metformin]," said Dr. Jack Leahy of the University of Vermont College of Medicine and principal investigator of one of the studies.

Better Efficacy and Goal Attainment Demonstrated with Insulin Glargine versus All Comparators(1)
"Efficacy and Goal Attainment Demonstrated with Insulin Glargine versus Competitors" [presentation number 976]: This pooled analysis looked at nine clinical studies where insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on OADs were randomized to add Lantus® (n=1,462) or comparators (OADs, NPH, lispro or premix; n=1,476) to their treatment regimen. Results showed that initiating Lantus® in patients uncontrolled on OADs was associated with better efficacy and goal attainment overall versus all comparators across the A1C continuum and when compared to OADs when baseline A1C was ≥8.0 percent.

Outcomes showed:

  • A1C reductions at week 24 were greater with Lantus® versus all comparators (p<0.001)
  • Efficacy across A1C categories were similar for insulin comparators
  • Hypoglycemia rates (any) were lower with Lantus® versus other insulin comparators (Lantus® vs. NPH, p=0.032, Lantus® vs. lispro, p=<0.001, Lantus® vs. premix, p=004)
  • Hypoglycemic event rates (any) were higher for Lantus versus OADs (p<0.001), although rates of severe hypoglycemia were similar between the two groups.

Significant Improvement in A1C Found Independent of Baseline Treatment Regimen(2)
"Clinical Outcomes after Basal Insulin Initiation Correlate with Baseline Oral Antidiabetic Drug Therapy: A Pooled Analysis of Clinical Trial Data" [presentation number 960]: This analysis included data from 11 prospective randomized controlled trials of Lantus® with or without OADs in adults with type 2 diabetes. The analysis compared patients given Lantus® (n=2,171) who were taking zero or one OAD at baseline (low use; 1.8% and 45.2%, respectively) with those taking two OADs (52.2%) and patients on metformin only (8.5%) with those on sulfonylurea only (36.5%) or metformin and sulfonylurea (49.9%) at baseline.

Outcomes showed:

  • At week 24, the reduction in A1C was greatest among patients given Lantus® with low baseline OAD use (0/1 OADs) (p=0.0198) and among those who were taking Lantus® and metformin only (p=0.0009)
  • Patients given Lantus® with low baseline OAD use had significantly lower rates of symptomatic hypoglycemia versus those taking two OADs (p=0.0009)
  • Patients given Lantus® who were taking only metformin had lower rates of hypoglycemia than those taking sulfonylurea or metformin plus sulfonylurea (p<0.0001) despite higher insulin doses (53 versus 37.5 versus 38.8 U)

Indications and Usage
Prescription Lantus® is a long-acting insulin used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes for the control of high blood sugar. It should be taken once a day at the same time each day to lower blood glucose. Do not use Lantus® to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. Lantus® SoloSTAR® is a disposable prefilled insulin pen.

For full prescribing information for Lantus®, please visit www.Lantus.com.

About Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. It is estimated that approximately 285 million adults worldwide are living with the disease and this number is expected to rise to a staggering 438 million within 20 years(3,4). It is estimated that nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, including an estimated 5.7 million who remain undiagnosed(5) At the same time, according to NHANES data from 2003-2004, approximately 40 percent of those diagnosed with diabetes did not achieve the blood sugar control target of A1C <7 percent recommended by the ADA(6). The A1C test measures average blood glucose levels over the past two-to-three-month period.

About the sanofi-aventis Diabetes Division
Sanofi-aventis strives to be a 360 degree partner delivering innovative and integrated solutions for people living with diabetes. The Company currently has insulin products, including Lantus®, Apidra® and Insuman® (outside the U.S.) - Lantus® and Apidra® are also available as injection pens (Lantus® SoloSTAR® and Apidra® SoloSTAR®). Also available in some countries (outside the U.S.) is ClikSTAR®, a reusable insulin injection pen for Lantus® or Apidra® for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Following the formation of its Diabetes Division, sanofi-aventis has agreements with other companies for the development of blood glucose monitoring solutions and the potential first regenerative treatment for diabetes. Investigational compounds also in the pipeline include the once-daily injectable GLP-1 agonist lixisenatide as a monotherapy and in combination with basal insulin as well as long-acting insulin analogs.

About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). For more information, please visit: www.sanofi-aventis.com.

1. Banerji, M.A., "Better Efficacy and Goal Attainment Demonstrated with Insulin Glargine versus Competitors." Presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 46th Annual Meeting, presentation number 976,2010.
2. Leahy, J. "Clinical outcomes after basal insulin initiation correlate with baseline oral antidiabetic drug therapy: a pooled analysis of clinical trial data." Presented at the Association for the Study of Diabetes 46th Annual Meeting, presentation number 960, 2010.
3. IDF Diabetes Atlas.Global Burden.Aug.2010/Page 1/Lines 26-27
4. IDF Diabetes Atlas.Global Burden.Aug.2010/Page 1/Lines 29-30
5. CDC.DiabetesFactSheet.2007/Pg 5/Line 20
6. Ford.DiabetesCare.Jan.2008/Pg 103/Table 1