Fifty-two injections in a year, or one per week, instead of 365 which means one shot per day . Two numbers that can make a huge difference in the daily existence of people with diabetes, who from today will be able to have a clear improvement in the quality of life thanks to the approval by the European Medicines Agency of the first weekly insulin in the world for the treatment of adult patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes .

A "revolution" that comes after a century, or 100 years after the invention of insulin itself , experts say.

THE DRUG – The icodec molecule, produced by Novo Nordisk, is the first slow-release molecule in the world and has obtained approval from the European regulatory body for marketing in Europe on the basis of the safety and efficacy data from the phase 3a Onwards study . An innovation defined as "revolutionary" by both patients and doctors.

According to the president of the Italian Society of Diabetology (Sid), Angelo Avogaro, this is a " long-awaited innovation with positive effects from both a clinical and social point of view " and the hope is that the Italian Medicines Agency will now ( Aifa) «give your approval for the approval of this innovative insulin as soon as possible».

The improvement is evident in the management of the disease, explains Avogaro, because the new insulin has been shown to improve glycemic control, compared to the daily version, without an increase in the risk of hypoglycemia . And again: fewer injections offer more flexibility for daily routines, travel and social activities . And reducing frequent injections can decrease stress, anxiety and depression associated with diabetes.

The benefits are also for the environment, thanks to the decrease in the number of pens used and therefore the use of plastic.

TARGETED THERAPIES – The simplification of treatment also promises to improve therapeutic adherence, ultimately allowing better glycemic control , underlines the president of the Association of Diabetologists (AMD) Riccardo Candido, who speaks of the «first great pharmacological innovation after more than century".

Patient associations also applaud. «Being able to switch from at least one daily injection to a weekly one gives diabetics the freedom of not having to plan every single day based on the therapy but having the peace of mind of knowing that a single weekly injection is able to guarantee the same effectiveness and the same safety. It also means helping patients to overcome social, work-related and psychological problems", says Stefano Nervo, president of Diabete Italia.

“EPOCAL NEWS” – Emilio Augusto Benini, president of Fand, the Italian Diabetics Association, defines it as “epochal news for the concrete improvement it offers to the quality of life”. Now, he states, " we make an appeal to AIFA, so that it does not mortify our enthusiasm with long waits ".

A positive opinion also comes from the presidents of the parliamentary intergroup on obesity, diabetes and chronic non-communicable diseases, who met the Novo Nordisk company yesterday. Certainly, weekly insulin will have an impact on millions of people in Italy alone: in our country around 6% of the population suffers from diabetes, i.e. almost 4 million, but the figure is underestimated if we consider that the missed diagnoses are around 1.5 million.

(Unioneonline/vl)

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