Aventis Pharma Ltd, Indian arm of the Paris-based Sanofi Aventis, is all set to launch a new disposable insulin pen, Apidera, in the Indian market by September this year.

Aventis, which has recently launched the pre-filled disposable insulin pen, SoloSTAR for use with the 24-hour insulin Lantus, is hoping that Apidera along with SoloSTAR will be able to draw a good market share. Apidera, the short acting insulin analog, will be available in the market at the price of Rs 450. Though short acting insulin analogs form only 13 per cent of the total insulin market, the company is hoping that Apidera will hit the market successfully.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Susheel Umesh, senior director, Cardio-Metabolism Business Unit, Aventis Pharma, said, "Taking insulin doesn't mean the last stage of treatment and there is a need to create awareness about the correct use of insulins. Our market strategy is ACE; approach, care and education. Both SoloSTAR and Apidera will be very useful to the patients".

According to the company, the yet to be launched Apidera, will be more convenient to the patients and the level of insulin in the human body can be controlled by a single shot. Susheel Umesh added that with a view to create awareness about the correct use of insulin, the company will be organizing meetings and conferences with the doctors in different parts of the country and it will be an ongoing process. According to the company sources, SoloSTAR, which is expected to add one to two per cent increase to its turn over, has bagged the prestigious good design award by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.

The company is planning to launch four to five products in another one and a half months and two years, which will be belonging both oral and combination segment.