The Diabetes business unit of Medtronic, Inc, the world leader in insulin pump therapy, and Novo Nordisk have entered into an agreement to develop the first prefilled cartridges designed for use with Paradigm external insulin pumps. The two companies also agreed to conduct clinical studies and expand medical education highlighting the benefits of maintaining good blood glucose (sugar) control in people with diabetes who use U-100 NovoLog (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) and Paradigm pump therapy.

Prefilled cartridges containing NovoLog are expected to offer a convenient option for people using Paradigm pump therapy. Currently, pump users must transfer insulin every two to three days from a vial to a reservoir that fits inside their pump. When available, prefilled cartridges will eliminate this manual transfer process, simplifying pump therapy for Paradigm insulin pump users, Medtronic said in a release.

"The benefits of using NovoLog in an insulin pump to achieve good blood glucose control are well-documented," said Martin Soeters, president of Novo Nordisk Inc. "Our partnership with Medtronic supports our goal to improve diabetes treatment in the United States by pairing the market's leading insulin pump with our rapid-acting insulin analog," he added.

In addition to developing prefilled cartridges, the companies intend to initiate clinical studies to demonstrate the advantages of NovoLog insulin and Paradigm pump therapy over other insulin therapies. The partners will also create medical education initiatives highlighting the importance of maintaining target A1C of less than 7.0 per cent. A1C is the percent haemoglobin with glucose attached, and an indicator of long-term glycemic control; values less than 7.0 per cent in people with diabetes are desirable, as stated in the 2004 American Diabetes Association guidelines.

Robert Guezuraga, senior vice president and president of Medtronic's Diabetes business stated, "By joining forces, we have the ability to simplify pump therapy and reinforce the importance of achieving and maintaining excellent glucose control, which has been shown to improve health and extend life for many diabetes patients."

In Pump therapy, an external pump delivers insulin from a reservoir inside the pump to a patient's body using an infusion set and a tiny, flexible cannula. Insulin pumps use only short- or rapid-acting insulin. Insulin is delivered using a low, continuous rate (basal) around the clock similar to a healthy pancreas, and patients also can give extra insulin (bolus) with meals to prevent excessive rises in glucose levels. Pump users can adjust their basal and bolus insulin doses according to activity and meals. This gives patients greater flexibility and improved quality of life as compared to injection therapy, the release added.