Over the last few days in the world of diabetes has triggered an earthquake: a study published June 26 in Diabetologia, the magazine of EASD, has highlighted a possible carcinogenic effect of Lantus, insulin glargine ie. The famous and expensive insulin similar way for people with diabetes to control blood sugar levels due to a basal rate of 24 hours (or almost) with one injection a day would be dangerous to health, even if the conditional is obligatory .
A survey of 127,000 patients with diabetes in Germany have found that people who regularly use the Lantus has a 31% greater chance of developing cancer over a period of 1 year and a half, and that the risk is proportional to the amount of Lantus taken daily. Similar studies conducted in Sweden, Scotland and the UK have partially confirmed the results, although there has been some conflicting data. The Food and Drug Administration has opened an investigation to pursue the matter.
This is a preliminary research that certainly deepened by further studies before arriving at a definitive answer, as they allowed the authors of scientific publication. However great was the confusion triggered by the news, along with the sensation exploded in diabetology. But above all it is great dismay that crosses so many people with diabetes who use insulin that, some of which require answers and quick. It is important to remember however, that patients treated with Lantus must not discontinue treatment without the consent of their diabetologist.
Even from a financial standpoint there is a stock market crash of Title Sanofi-Aventis: the French pharmaceutical company that produces the Lantus has lost more than 7% in one day of publication of the study. Sanofi Aventis is the same corporation that only a few days before the outbreak of the "scandal Lantus" had announced the production of vaccine against the famous "flu", also known as swine flu.
Immediately after the stock market crash, Sanofi Aventis has seen fit to issue a series of statements, with which it seeks to ensure that in reality the Lantus is safe and that there is no link with cancer, challenging the method used by researchers in the study recently published. The question that arises is "who" wanted to reassure the leaders of Sanofi Aventis? Doctors who prescribe the Lantus? Or maybe the shareholders who buy the bonds? The fear is that people forget. Because the money and interests that revolve around these topics are so many, indeed many, and I would not want the biggest concern was to secure all sales and the capital, before the actual safety of the drug. But diabetics are truly more important than money? Continue reading 'Scandal Lantus: suspicion of cancer and the economic interests of insulin'
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