Drug Overview
Levemir (insulin detemir; Novo Nordisk) is a long-acting basal insulin analog. It is indicated for the improvement of glycemic control in adults and children (aged two years and older) with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Levemir’s favorable weight profile compared to Lantus (insulin glargine; Sanofi) is its key point of differentiation.
The prolonged action of Levemir is achieved by slow systemic absorption from the injection site due to strong self-association of the drug molecules, and albumin binding. While its action profile is relatively flat, Levemir does show a peak period of action six to eight hours after administration, and is seen by many physicians as less of a truly 24-hour insulin than competitor Lantus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
4 PRODUCT PROFILES
4 Levemir : Diabetes type 2
15 Levemir : Diabetes type 1
LIST OF FIGURES
8 Figure 1: Levemir brand franchise for type 2 diabetes – SWOT analysis
9 Figure 2: Datamonitor Healthcare drug assessment of Levemir
10 Figure 3: Datamonitor Healthcare drug assessment scorecard for Levemir compared to Lantus
12 Figure 4: Levemir sales for type 2 diabetes across the US, Japan, and five major EU markets, by country, 2016–25
19 Figure 5: Levemir for type 1 diabetes – SWOT analysis
20 Figure 6: Datamonitor Healthcare’s drug assessment of Levemir in type 1 diabetes
21 Figure 7: Datamonitor Healthcare’s drug assessment of Levemir in type 1 diabetes
LIST OF TABLES
4 Table 1: Levemir drug profile
6 Table 2: Overview of pivotal trial data for Levemir in type 2 diabetes
13 Table 3: Levemir sales for type 2 diabetes across the US, Japan, and five major EU markets, by country ($m), 2016–25
16 Table 4: Levemir drug profile
17 Table 5: Levemir pivotal trial data in type 1 diabetes