The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) under the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted positive opinion recommending marketing of NovoRapid PumpCart in Europe. NovoRapid PumpCart is a 1.6 ml prefilled insulin pump cartridge containing the rapid-acting insulin NovoRapid from Novo Nordisk.

The NovoRapid PumpCart is currently expected to be launched in selected European countries during 2014 and 2015.

NovoRapid is compatible with Roche Diabetes Care’s next-generation Accu-Chek Insight diabetes therapy system.

NovoRapid PumpCart has been developed in a non-exclusive partnership between Roche Diabetes Care, a pioneer and global market leader in the development of diabetes management solutions and services, and Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care. The prefilled cartridge and insulin delivery system is expected to make insulin pump therapy more convenient for people with diabetes.

“Today, insulin pump users go through a rather complicated process of filling disposable plastic reservoirs with insulin, typically from a larger insulin vial. Now, insulin pump users can simply place a prefilled insulin cartridge into their insulin pump without any extra handling steps. Novo Nordisk is committed to continuously improving diabetes care and to make the lives of people with diabetes easier, so we are pleased to provide pump users with this new treatment option,” says Jakob Riis, executive vice president, Marketing and Medical Affairs, Novo Nordisk.

Luc Vierstraete, global head of Roche Diabetes Care, says: "We are excited to be able to offer this solution to our customers and bring to market our innovative Accu-Chek Insight diabetes therapy system compatible with the option of using the new prefilled insulin cartridge. This can help to enhance the advantages of a targeted and effective insulin pump therapy while contributing to a simplified diabetes management in everyday life."

An insulin pump delivers insulin from a reservoir inside the pump to a patient's body using an infusion set and a tiny cannula. Insulin pumps use fast-acting insulin such as NovoRapid. The insulin is delivered using continuous infusion and is often used by people with type 1 diabetes who receive intensified insulin therapy and test their blood glucose levels on a regular basis. An insulin pump provides these patients with more flexibility and is expected to improve glycaemic control and quality of life.

NovoRapid (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) is a mealtime insulin indicated to improve glycaemic control in adults and children with diabetes.

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with leadership in diabetes care and also within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy.

Roche Diabetes Care is a pioneer in the development of blood glucose monitoring systems and a global leader for diabetes management systems and services.