Identifizierung neuer Mutationen im Glukokinase-Gen (MODY2) und HNF1alpha-Gen (MODY3)

Dose accuracy of SoloSTAR and FlexPen as assessed in a clinical setting

AIMS

This study aimed to compare the accuracy of SoloSTAR(sanofi-aventis, Paris, France) and FlexPen (Novo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) to deliver doses of insulin when used by insulin/device-naive people attending a local healthcare practice.

METHODS

For the determination of dose accuracy, SoloSTAR containing insulin glargine (lot 672) and FlexPen containing insulin aspart (lot SH70557) were used for all tests. The participants were given instruction by an independent monitor on how to use the pens. To be consistent, users were trained to hold the pens in situ for 10 s at the end of injection to ensure that the full dose was injected. Forty-eight subjects performed three dose deliveries of 20 units (into a sponge) with each pen type. The method of injecting into a sponge aimed to mimic real-life practice; this approach is commonly used to ensure the patient has a correct injection technique before the patient self-administers the injection.

RESULTS

The delivery (n = 144) of individual doses of 20 units was not statistically different (P = 0.187) between SoloSTAR (mean +/- SD, 19.75 +/- 0.30 units) and FlexPen (19.80 +/- 0.33 units). In total, 2% of doses from both devices were <19 units; 98% were within 19-21 units.

CONCLUSIONS

Both SoloSTAR and FlexPen were similarly accurate when used by device-naive subjects to deliver 20-unit doses of insulin. This is likely to have beneficial clinical effects in terms of glycemic control, as well as improved patient confidence that insulin pens accurately deliver doses of insulin.

Dose accuracy comparison between SoloSTAR and FlexPen at three different dose levels

BACKGROUND

The convenience and accuracy of insulin pens have led to their extensive use in patients with diabetes. Although all insulin pens go through extensive testing as part of the regulatory process, it is important that both the patient and clinician can be assured of the accuracy of the dose delivered. This study compared the dosing accuracy of two commonly available insulin pens, the SoloSTAR (sanofi-aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany) and FlexPen (Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) devices.

METHODS

Doses of 5, 10, and 30 units of insulin were investigated for SoloSTAR and FlexPen, and specific units of accuracy were based on International Organization of Standards for insulin injection pens (+/-1 unit for the 5 and 10-unit doses, +/-5% for the 30-unit dose). A total of 30 pens were tested for both the SoloSTAR and FlexPen, and a total of 2,280 measurement values were taken for each pen type (5 units, 1,260; 10 units, 750; and 30 units, 270 doses).

RESULTS

Both devices were shown to be accurate at all three doses, and all doses were delivered within the limits proposed by the International Standard of Organization, which is used as part of the regulatory approval process when introducing an insulin injection device to the market.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that the SoloSTAR and FlexPen devices have comparable accuracy.