Novo Nordisk’s award-winning NovoPen® 5 with easy-to-use memory function approved in China

Novo Nordisk’s latest innovation in durable insulin delivery devices, NovoPen® 5, has just been approved by the Tianjin Food and Drug Administration for launch in China. China is now the country in the world with the largest number of people with diabetes, more than 90 million1.

NovoPen® 5 which was awarded the red dot Best of the Best design award in 2012 has all the benefits of its predecessor NovoPen® 4 in terms of design and functionality and the insulin delivery system is identical in both devices. However, the addition of a memory function allows the patient increased confidence and peace of mind, compared to previous devices without this new technology2.

The memory function helps patients remember their last injection and answer the question “Did I take my dose or not?” which is a common situation for many people living with diabetes. A usability study has shown that 78% of patients would feel more confident using an insulin pen with a memory function than their current pen3. Therefore, it can be a help for patients to gain reassurance in their daily diabetes treatment.

The lead designer behind the NovoPen® 5, Ramin Nateghi-Elahi, from Novo Nordisk, explains: “The aim of NovoPen® 5 is to heighten the safety of insulin treatment by integrating a memory function into the injection pen that reminds the patient whether a dose has been taken or not. This helps the patient to avoid missing an injection leading to uncontrolled blood sugar levels or overdosing insulin, which may have severe consequences.”

The NovoPen® 5 is currently available for patients in Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland and will be launched in China in the coming months.

View interview with the lead designer behind NovoPen® 5 >>

About NovoPen® 5

NovoPen® 5 is the latest innovation in the NovoPen® family and adds an easy to use memory function. It is the successor of the NovoPen® 4. NovoPen® was introduced in 1985 as the first insulin injection device on the market.

About diabetes

8.3% of the total world population or more than 371 million people have diabetes. It is estimated that by 2030, more than 556 million people worldwide will have diabetes. In China, 92.3 million people suffer from diabetes.1

References

1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 5th Edition, 2012 Update. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation. Available from: http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas.
2. “Life Science and Medicine.” Reddot. [2012], accessed on[12/10/2012]. http://en.red-dot.org/2775.html?&cHash=c20e2d20676fe65e17d4ba8814990f0e&detail=9213&year=0
3. Guo et al. Evaluation of a new durable insulin pen with memory function among people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. Expert Opinion on drug Delivery 2012; 9(4): 355-366

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