An Easier Way to Take Lantus

For those on or considering the basal insulin Lantus, a new disposable pen is out. Approved by the FDA on April 30, this new option for Lantus – called the SoloStar – will be made available across the US this year. Lantus users now deliver with the refillable pen OptiClik or with the traditional vial and syringe. We think it’s great to see this new pen, since the OptiClik has had various delivery problems, and we’re waiting to see how patients like the SoloStar and whether it’s covered by insurance. The pen is pre-filled with Lantus and can dose up to 80 units per injection, which is more than any other disposable pen. According to Sanofi-Aventis, which makes the pen, it requires less “injection force,” which may be good for those with limited hand strength, though we can’t verify yet that you can really tell the difference. A SoloStar pre-filled with the rapid-acting insulin Apidra has already been approved in Europe; we may see that in the US in the next few years.