Sanofi India (formerly known as Aventis Pharma Ltd) has launched AllStar, its indigenously manufactured reusable insulin pen in India. Developed especially for Indian patients by Sanofi's Medical Device Development team at Frankfurt, AllStar is indicated for use of insulinized patients using Sanofi's insulin portfolio. The AllStar re-usable insulin pen conforms to ISO standards and is equipped with state-of-the-art, unparalleled 10-in-1 features. The company has fixed the price at Rs.650 in India and it will be manufactured in Gujarat. The company is launching AllStar in emerging markets also after regulatory approvals.

Announcing the launch of AllStar, Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, managing director, Sanofi India and vice president South Asia, Group Sanofi, said, “Sanofi has always been at the forefront of diabetes research and development and All Star is a testament to our patient-centric approach. For almost three years, Sanofi's scientists worked closely with our team here to develop a device that was 'Made in India, for India. AllStar heralds a new era of indigenous device manufacturing for Sanofi India, which we hope to utilize for other devices in future.”

“The launch of AllStar is a significant milestone milestone in Sanofi India's diabetes growth story, and also underlines the Sanofi Group's focus on diabetes, emerging markets and our regionalised approach to finding solutions that are adapted to local needs,” Ayyangar added.

Dr Volker Korger, Head – Diabetes Device Project, (MED Frankfurt), Sanofi, shared that, AllStar is a combination of sleek design styling and sophisticated technology. We brought together Sanofi's award winning Solostar design team in Germany and UK to make AllStar, he lightest reusable insulin pen in India. The German team contributed its devices, and from Taiwan we included accurate tooling, as in a device such as this, extraordinary accuracy is most vital in even the smallest of components. Finally, the manufacturing is being done in India – we recognized today for producing high-precision components.”

Dr Shashank Joshi, consultant endocrinologist, Lilavati Hospital and president, Indian Academy of Diabetes, said, “India has the second highest number of diabetics in the world. The thin fat Indians are often diagnosed late and often have poor glycemic control. Due to poor muscle mass, they often need insulin. Indian patients have a lot of myths and misconceptions about insulin which is an evidence based option, as it often improves not only glucose control but also overall well being and therapeutic outcomes of diabetic patients. Once daily novel basal insulins are very easy to use. In India, on an average, doctors prescribe insulin therapy to about one-third of their total diabetes patients. Of these, close to 75 per cent patients are on vials with syringes and 25 per cent on insulin pens.”

“Insulin pens definitely offer greater advantage than vials and syringes in terms of ease of usage thereby increasing patient initiation and compliance to therapy. The newly launched AllStar is one of the devices that takes into consideration all of the Indian patients' needs. It's a state-of-the-art device that is simple-to-use, and will also support physicians in early initiation of insulin therapy for better glycemic control and enhanced therapeutic outcomes,” Dr Joshi added.

Sanofi India is having 12.5 per cent market share in human insulin and 8 per cent in oral insulin in India. The company is growing at a rate of 19.5 per cent CAGR during the last five years. AllStar pen will help improve both insulin initiation and compliance; and bring ease and reassurance to the lives of Indian patients, giving them the convenience of international standards at an affordable price.