Utah mom fights for her daughter’s access to discontinued diabetes medication: ‘Life-saving’
- Family found the ‘ideal’ drug for managing diabetes — then it was abruptly discontinued
By Melissa Rudy Fox News
Published April 19, 2024 5:00am EDT
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Smart has now made it her mission to convince Novo Nordisk to continue making Levemir — or to find a pharmaceutical company to create a biosimilar (generic) alternative.
Levemir is a long-acting basal insulin that’s injected once or twice a day to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes, according to Novo Nordisk’s website.
For Smart’s daughter, an active athlete who plays on the tennis team at Woods Cross High School, Levemir has enabled her to continue with her regular activities while controlling her diabetes.
While there are a couple of other types of basal insulin on the market, Smart said Levemir is best suited to her daughter’s needs.
“Levemir is unique in that it is a relatively shorter-acting basal insulin, making it ideal for those with fluctuating basal insulin needs, including teenagers, menstruating women, pregnant women and athletes,” she said.
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Doesn’t Novo Nordisk’s decision make Levemir an “orphan drug”?
If it’s not worthy of the Federal Gooferment’s support, then at least it should become unpatentable and free to generic makers.
I don’t understand how patent and copyright holder can hold things “hostage” and still get “protection”?
Sorry, society’s grant of these privileges is subject to them being made reasonably available.
IMHO
Argh!
Gooferment is always at the root of problems.
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Reinke Faces Life 