Sanofi KSA Launches the Next Generation Basal Insulin in the Saudi Market

The control of blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes stays sub-optimal, with 1 in 2 patients on treatment for diabetes not reaching their glycemic objectives. With the aim of resolving this unmet need of patients, Sanofi KSA has launched the next generation basal insulin[1].

Dr. Saud Al-Sifiri, Head of Endocrinology Department in Al-Hada Hospital said: “The International Diabetes Federation Report 2015 showed that the prevalence of diabetes in Saudi is 20% in adult population. This ranks Saudi the highest in the Middle Eastern countries and number six worldwide. This is primarily due to increasing obesity, sedentary lifestyles and an aging population and is the cause of substantial morbidity and mortality” [2].

Dr. Abdul Rahman El-Shiekh, Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at King Abdul Aziz University and the Chairman of the Saudi Diabetes Society, adds: “Hypoglycemia is associated with a high cost for the patient, the healthcare system, and society at large, there has been associated direct cost of hypoglycemia like hospitalization, physician cost and emergency cost, and indirect cost including the absence from work, reduced work capability and other related accidents. All of these have a direct effect on reducing quality of life, and reduced or even lost work capacity are additional costs to society”[3].

Dr. Ahmed Serag commented: “Sanofi is proud of its leadership and long heritage in diabetes and insulin therapies, consisting of over vast offering of insulins which have supported patients in the management of their diabetes for more than a year. We are committed to bringing innovative therapies that goes beyond the pill that intend to provide much better health results for individuals with diabetes in Saudi Arabia. With the introduction of the next generation basal insulin we provide reliable option that will resolve some of the previously unmet needs of diabetic patients in the kingdom”.

According to the WHO, it is estimated that there has been more than 760,000 emergency hospitalizations per year due to diabetes[4].

It is worth mentioning that the cost of diabetes is around 17 billion Saudi Riyals per year, it will rise to 27 Billion Riyals if the undiagnosed patients undergo the treatment and eventually it will rise even further to 43 billion SAR if pre-diabetic patients became diabetic [5].