Rome – A novelty for approximately 1,3 million Italians, that is, for all people who live with diabetes and are forced to undergo daily injections of basal insulin. In fact, the first basal insulin administered weekly for the treatment of adults with type 2 and type 1 diabetes mellitus who require more than one insulin injection per day is now available in Italy.
Thanks to the approval of this new technology by the Italian Medicines Agency, it is possible for patients to go from 365 insulin injections per year to 52. This means having the possibility of managing diabetes with just one injection per week instead of 7, with an improvement in the quality of life, a potential greater therapeutic adherence and also a benefit in terms of reduced environmental impact.
This was discussed today in Rome during the press conference entitled 'Diabetes, Italy pioneers with the first weekly insulin in the world', organized by Novo Nordisk Italia, with the patronage of the Danish Embassy in Italy. The event took place at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni.
The Undersecretary of Health, Marcello, opened the proceedings. Putting the patient at the center, simplifying adherence to therapies and ensuring sustainable innovation are fundamental priorities in the health policies of our government - he said - to protect the right of access to medicines for all citizens.
In a demographic context characterized by an aging population and the growing incidence of chronic diseases, facilitating access to pharmacological treatments is a necessity.
For diabetic patients, the ability to switch from daily to weekly administration of basal insulin represents a concrete step forward in this direction.
The fact that Italy is the first country in the world to make this innovation available under the National Health Service testifies to the strength of a virtuous collaboration between institutions, politics, industry, the scientific community and patient associations, united to improve the quality of life of citizens. It is also confirmation of the solidity and excellence of the Italian pharmaceutical and regulatory system in the international panorama”.
This innovation has been considered a health priority for the country by both health authorities and the scientific community. In fact, Italy is the first country in Europe to have completed the authorization process for access to this innovation, less than a year after its approval in Europe.
“It is a source of pride for Italy to be the first country to have completed the approval procedure for the first weekly insulin in the world,” commented Gian Marco Centinaio, Vice President of the Senate. “This important innovation can concretely allow people with diabetes to improve their quality of life, making it easier to manage the disease and also reducing the environmental impact thanks to the smaller number of injections.
This record demonstrates, once again, the commitment of Italian institutions in recognizing the importance of innovation in the world of health, which could change the lives of millions of people. It is therefore crucial that all stakeholders continue to work together to create a system and to make increasingly innovative solutions accessible, also in the future, for the benefit of patients and the community".
Ensuring patients have rapid access to innovations, according to the vice president of the Chamber, Giorgio Mulè, is a "commitment that the institutions of our country carry forward with conviction and continuous commitment. We did it in 2023 with law 130 on pediatric screening from zero to 17 years for type 1 diabetes and we reiterated it today by ensuring people with diabetes have access to the first weekly insulin in the world.
An introduction that once again places Italy in a position of excellence with regard to health priorities in the field of chronicity, because we are among the first countries in the world to have made this innovation available”. Today, insulin therapy involves at least one injection per day, with repercussions on the personal, social and work spheres.
This daily complexity affects the quality of life and adherence to the It is estimated that 50% of patients delay starting insulin therapy by more than two years - experts reported during the conference - In Italy, one patient in three is not yet treated with insulin, despite HbA1c values = 9%.
In one study, over 90% of doctors and patients expressed a desire to avoid daily injections. Delaying insulin treatment also increases the risk of serious complications: heart attack (+67%), heart failure (+64%), stroke (+51%), nephropathy (+18%), neuropathy (+8%), and retinopathy (+7%).
In phase 3 clinical trials, weekly insulin allowed a reduction in blood glucose (measured as a change in HbA1c) compared to daily basal insulin, promoting glycemic control in people with type 21,4 diabetesXNUMX. The introduction of the first weekly insulin in Italy therefore represents a significant change in diabetes management.
“At Novo Nordisk, we are committed to helping people with chronic conditions like diabetes live with greater freedom, better control and less daily burden, and we are proud to bring this innovation to patients,” said Alfredo Galletti, Vice President and General Manager, Novo Nordisk.
We are pleased to announce the availability in Italy of the first weekly insulin in the world and we would like to thank all those who have made this historic milestone possible, addressing the institutions and scientific societies for the attention they have placed on the topic of innovation in diabetes for the benefit of all people living with this disease.
With this innovation, the quality of life of patients can be significantly improved, marking a fundamental advance in the management of the disease and allowing the system to better respond to an important public health challenge”. Finally, Novo Nordisk will launch the social campaign 'Long Story Short', created in collaboration with FAND, to inform patients about the importance of quality of life and innovation in diabetes.
Article published on 10 June 2025 - 15:40
Video Chronicles
