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Novo Nordisk to stop distribution of diabetes drug Tresiba in Germany

Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk has decided to stop distribution of its once-daily basal insulin Tresiba (insulin degludec) in Germany.

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The decision to cease distribution follows a negative outcome of price negotiations with the GKV-Spitzenverband, the German national association of statutory health insurance funds.

Tresiba provides an ultra-long duration of action beyond 42 hours and it is important for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to establish a routine for insulin treatment.

The company will continue supplying the product until the end of this September in order to ensure a safe switch to another insulin treatment for the 40,000 people with diabetes currently using Tresiba.

Novo Nordisk executive vice president Jakob Riis said: "We are very sad that it has not been possible to reach a price agreement with the insurance fund.

"Tresiba offers important benefits for many people with diabetes as recognised by the European health authorities (EMA), among others.

"The GKV-Spitzenverband decided nevertheless to set the price at the level of ordinary human insulin, a product which was launched in the 1980s. If we were to accept this price, we would undermine our ability to research and develop medical innovations for people with diabetes.

"That would not be in the best interest of the millions of people with diabetes for whom current treatments are insufficient to control their disease. We deeply regret the uncertainty and inconvenience this situation creates for the affected patients and physicians in Germany, and will do our utmost to support them in the process of switching patients to another insulin treatment."

The drug has been launched in 30 countries and the decision to cease its distribution in Germany has no implications for the other countries where the product is available, the company said.


Image: Tresiba is a once-daily basal insulin that provides an ultra-long duration of action beyond 42 hours. Photo: courtesy of Baitong333/ freedigitalphotos.net