Sanofi strikes back with hefty Lantus data (SNY, NVO)
Sanofi-Aventis on Monday announced results of a 5-year study of its long-acting Lantus insulin in more than 1,000 patients that found no increased progression of blindness in patients that took Lantus vs. regular human insulin.
The safety study’s results come just days after analyst reports surfaced late last week, warning of a potentially negative analysis in a major medical journal that may link the company’s Lantus long-acting insulin product — the second-biggest seller in its product lineup — to cancer risk.
In the study announced today, Sanofi added that there was no observable trend in the five-year study for a difference in the incidence of serious adverse events including cancer, as well as adverse events leading to study withdrawal.
In addition to Sanofi shares, one other stock to watch on the announcement is Novo Nordisk (NVO), which makes a similar long-lasting insulin product called Levemir. — Mike Tarsala
