Faster acting mealtime insulin Fiasp launched in Canada

Canada has become the first country to launch Fiasp; a new, faster insulin from Novo Nordisk.
Fiasp is faster acting than NovoRapid and has been shown to appear in the bloodstream twice as quickly following injection.
The quicker absorption of insulin was even more pronounced in people using insulin pump therapy.
This means the insulin leads to lower blood glucose after meals and can therefore improve diabetes control.
Mads Krogsgaard Thomse, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk stated: “The launch of Fiasp in Canada represents the first new mealtime insulin in 10 years. We hope to make this innovation available to as many people with diabetes as possible worldwide.
“The goal of any insulin treatment is to match the natural physiological insulin production we see in people without diabetes, both in speed and glycaemic control. Fiasp has narrowed the existing gap, getting us closer to that goal.”
Clinicals trials have shown that Fiasp allowed people with type 1 diabetes to achieve greater diabetes control after meals and overall, when compared with NovoRapid. The improvement in control was seen without any significant increase in risk of hypos or severe hypos.
There were also benefits in terms of diabetes control for people with type 2 diabetes.
Dr Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret, endocrinologist at the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal stated: “With the approval of a faster-acting insulin, one that is closer to the natural physiological insulin response of a person without diabetes, we can further support people in managing their blood glucose levels around meals, which may help prevent hyperglycemia, for instance, a condition that can cause serious complications for people living with diabetes.”
The new insulin received European approval on 10 January this year, but it is yet to be launched in the UK.