Julphar signs agreement with BD to supply disposable insulin pens in UAE

Julphar, one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Middle East and Africa, has signed an agreement with leading global medical technology company BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) to supply disposable insulin pens in the UAE.

BD develops innovative technologies, services and solutions that help advance both the clinical process for healthcare providers and clinical therapy for patients, including a wide variety of insulin delivery devices for diabetics.

Through this agreement, Julphar’s human insulin formulations, including Jusline R, Jusline N and Jusline 30/70, will be available for administration through BD’s portfolio of BD Vystra disposable pens. In addition, the same device will be used for insulin analogues (insulin glargine and insulin lispro), which are still under development.

Commenting on the announcement, Jerome Carle, General Manager of Julphar, said, "The global diabetes market is large and growing. Through our agreement with BD, we will be able to keep pace with the growth and further improve our position in this lucrative market, placing us among the top three players in the world.

"Many people in the UAE are suffering from what, in some cases, is a preventable condition. As a global leader in the manufacture of insulin, Julphar has a responsibility to not only raise awareness of the risk factors, but to provide affordable, effective solutions that help diabetes sufferers live healthy, normal lives.

"An insulin pen offers more accuracy, convenience and confidence to diabetes sufferers, and we look forward to launching these high-tech devices here in the very near future."

Insulin pens are small, disposable, lightweight plastic handheld devices containing prefilled insulin cartridges that are convenient and more versatile than some traditional methods for insulin injection.

Almost one in five people in the UAE has diabetes, making it one of the country's largest health concerns. The UAE has some of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, with 2017 figures showing that 17.3 percent of the population has the condition, positioning it 15th on the World Diabetes Federation list.

Julphar launched its US$150m biopharmaceutical facility in 2012, which has the capacity to produce 1,500kg of recombinant human insulin and insulin analogues crystals, (rDNA), equivalent to a combination of 30 million vials and 25 million cartridges and pens of insulin per year.

The disposable insulin pens are now in the final stages of the approval process and are due to be launched as soon as they have been officially registered by the Ministry of Health.

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