Pre-filled pen launched for exenatide

A new pre-filled pen for the administration of the once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist Bydureon® (exenatide once-weekly) has been launched.

This is a pre-filled, single-use pen injector, which contains the same formulation and dose as the original exenatide once-weekly single-dose tray. The new pen eliminates the need for the patient to transfer the medication between a vial and syringe, simplifying administration of the injection. The pen can be administered at any time of the day, with or without meals and requires no titration.

Debbie Hicks, Nurse Consultant – Diabetes at Enfield Community Services, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, commented “In my clinical practice, it is very important that I can offer a treatment to people with type 2 diabetes that I can be confident will be effective over an extended period of time. Bydureon has demonstrated its efficacy in clinical trials and the launch of the new pen now makes its administration simpler. Generally I find that my patients are more likely to adhere to a once-weekly medication than one given more frequently and the pre-filled pen is a welcome development.”

Patients currently prescribed exenatide once-weekly in the single-dose tray will be transitioned onto the new pen by mid-2015, ensuring no interruption of treatment during this period. All newly prescribed patients will receive the exenatide once-weekly pen from January 2015 onwards.