Lilly To Discontinue Four Insulin Products

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 11 Jul 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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Eli Lilly and Company announced that it is discontinuing production of Iletin® II Pork Insulin (Regular and NPH®formulations), and Humulin®U Ultralente® and Humulin®L Lente®(Humulin U and Humulin L) insulin products. Given current inventories and patient demand, these products should be available in pharmacies through the end of 2005.

"Over the past few decades there has been a great deal of innovation in insulin therapy, such as rapid-acting analogs, analog mixtures, basal analogs and other human insulin products and formulations. As a result, we've seen a significant and steady decline in usage of the products we're discontinuing as doctors continue to move their patients towards newer therapies," said Dr. Scott Jacober, Medical Advisor, Diabetes Care, Eli Lilly and Company.

While over 3.5 million patients with diabetes in the United States currently use insulin, Lilly estimates that less than two percent of these patients will be affected by the discontinuations announced today.

"Lilly is providing information in advance of the discontinuations because our first priority is to make certain that patients transition as smoothly as possible to an alternative insulin therapy, whether a Lilly insulin or not." added Dr. Jacober.

Lilly and other manufacturers currently offer many alternatives to the insulin formulations that are being discontinued. Lilly recommends that patients who are currently using any of these insulin formulations see their physicians so that appropriate changes may be made to their insulin therapy.

Lilly will be providing doctors, pharmacists, nurses and diabetes educators with more detailed information about these product discontinuations, including alternative insulin options. In addition, Lilly is providing health care professionals with tools and information that they may share with their affected patients. Packaging of all impacted insulins shipped to pharmacies after mid-August 2005 will also notify patients of the discontinuation and provide Lilly's toll-free information number.

Changing insulin therapy should only be done under a doctor's supervision.

For more information, people should call Lilly's customer service line at 1-800 LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).

Lilly's Leadership in Diabetes:

Through a long-standing commitment to diabetes care, Lilly provides patients with breakthrough treatments that enable them to live longer, healthier and fuller lives. Since 1923, Lilly has been the industry leader in pioneering therapies to help health care professionals improve the lives of people with diabetes, and research continues on innovative medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. For more information about Lilly's current diabetes products visit lillydiabetes.com.

About Lilly:

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com.

Contact: Marni Lemons, Eli Lilly and Company (317) 433-8990.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Regular Iletin® II (INSULIN INJECTION, USP, PURIFIED PORK), Lilly
NPH Iletin® II (ISOPHANE INSULIN SUSPENSION, USP, PURIFIED PORK), Lilly
Humulin® U ULTRALENTE® (HUMAN INSULIN [rDNA ORIGIN] EXTENDED ZINC SUSPENSION), Lilly
Humulin® L LENTE ® (HUMAN INSULIN [rDNA ORIGIN] ZINC SUSPENSION), Lilly

http://www.lillymedia.com

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