Novo Nordisk, a global leader in diabetes care, on 21 Sep 2020 announced the launch of Ryzodeg® in Singapore. The new treatment is a combination of two distinct insulin analogues, insulin degludec and insulin aspart in the ratio of 70% and 30%, that helps maintain stable control of glucose levels.

The new treatment is a prescription medicine available in a prefilled, disposable insulin pen called FlexTouch®, specifically designed for accurate and consistent dose delivery as well as ease of handling. The improvements and innovations in Ryzodeg® FlexTouch® will provide Singaporeans living with diabetes a smarter treatment alternative to increase their confidence in managing diabetes. 

Despite recent advances, people living with diabetes face challenges in adhering to their treatment regimen while managing their daily commitments. Dr. Eric Khoo, Consultant Endocrinologist from Gleneagles Medical Centre elaborated that “Current available insulin options while they do offer effective control of blood glucose in most instances, there are still issues to contend with for example, risks of low glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) especially in the older adults or those with kidney or heart complications, the ease of use (the need to give the insulin at an exact time every day, a need to shake a pre-mix insulin) and the need sometimes for multiple insulins widigth differing devices. The availability of Ryzodeg® may help to mitigate some of these challenges and allow patients to manage their condition more effectively in reaching treatment targets”.  

Dr Matthew Tan, Consultant Endocrinologist at Farrer Park Hospital, added that “Ryzodeg® brings an ultra-long acting basal insulin together with a mealtime insulin, in a single device. This co-formulation without the need of resuspension provides 24-hour coverage which results in better fasting plasma glucose and better control for one or two meal-related glucose excursions,”

“This innovative, simple, and smarter diabetes treatment will enable more effective diabetes care and management, providing patients with a more positive treatment journey that may also improve their everyday life,” Dr Tan concluded.

Globally, Ryzodeg® has been approved in more than 70 countries, including the US in September 2015. In Australia, it has been approved and listed by the government into the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, which has enabled universal access to people with diabetes nationwide.