People with diabetes in Canada will be able to buy a longer-lasting form of insulin that is injected only once a day, and which also reduces the chances of dangerously low blood sugar levels.

The insulin glargine, sold in the U.S. under the brand name Lantus, is engineered to be absorbed more slowly and last longer than older forms of the hormone.

Testing blood sugar levels is a daily ritual for diabetics.
Testing blood sugar levels is a daily ritual for diabetics.

The molecular nature of Lantus has no peak action, meaning fewer low blood sugars.

Lantus is sold in 40 countries and was approved for use in Canada about two years ago, but a price review delayed its entry on to the market here.

"This new insulin is a significant advance over what we've had, and we've been waiting for it for a long time," said Dr. Tom Eliot, a diabetes specialist in Vancouver. "The only down side is, it's quite a lot more expensive than previous insulin."

Price review

The manufacturer of Lantus, Sanofi-Aventis, estimates a daily dose will cost between $1 and $2 – triple the price of some insulins.

It appears Canada's pricing review board has allowed the company to win, said one of Eliot's patients, Heather Coulthart of Bowen Island, B.C.

"I don't think that's right," said Coulthart. "I know they have huge R and D costs, but they make a lot of money."

Joelle Sissman, a spokesperson for Sanofi-Aventis, defended the tough stance the company took with Canada's pricing review board, saying Lantus is a better insulin.

Until now, diabetics in Canada who weren't participating in drug trials had to travel to the U.S. to get their supply of Lantus.

The new insulin can help both type 1 and type 2 diabetics over the age of 17 to keep their blood-glucose levels within a healthy range.

It's estimated there are 2.25 million diabetics in Canada, who must test their blood glucose levels daily.

If diabetes isn't controlled, patients can suffer long-term complications such as heart attack and stroke, kidney damage, vision loss and nerve damage that can lead to limb amputation.

The company is now lobbying provincial health plans and private insurance companies to cover the cost of Lantus.