FlexTouch(Novo Nordisk A/S) is a new prefilled insulin pen for peoplewith diabetes, with a novel injection mechanism and no push-button extension at any dose setting. A study comparing the injection force of FlexTouch with that of SoloStar(Sanofi-aventis) and KwikPen(Eli Lilly & Co.)measured with the manufacturers’ recommended needle attached to each pen showed that FlexTouch had a significantly (P < 0.0001) lower injection force than SoloStar and KwikPen at all injection speeds. The injection mechanism of FlexTouch is that insulin injection is driven by a torque spring andnot the thumb pressure of the user. This results in a 62–82% lower injection force with FlexTouch than other prefilled insulin pens

Ipragliflozin, a novel, selective inhibitor of sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2), in clinical development for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment, when added to metformin reduces HbA1c in a dose dependent manner. These findings were discussed by J. Wilding and colleagues at the IDF World Diabetes Congrss Dubai. The study assessed the efficacy and safety of ipragliflozin as add-on therapy to metformin in T2DM patients with inadequate glycemic control on metformin monotherapy.Researchers primarily studied the change in HbA1c from baseline compared to placebo. Additionally they observed the change from baseline FPG and proportion achieving HbA1c target of <7.0% at week 12. Treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), including urinary tract infection (UTI), genital tract infection (GTI), hypoglycemia; vital signs and other safety parameters were also assessed.

Findings from the study showed that Ipragliflozin decreased HbA1c in a dose-dependent manner by 0.53–0.79%, compared to 0.31% with placebo (P<0.001).

With the exception of the lowest dose, more ipragliflozin-treated patients had HbA1c below <7% at week 12 compared to placebo .All ipragliflozin groups exhibited a modest decrease in body weight and blood pressure.

TEAEs were observed in 39.7–51.4% of ipragliflozin-treated subjects, versus 39.4% on placebo. UTI and GTI in ipragliflozin groups (4.3 and 1.8%) were similar to the placebo group (6.1 and 1.5%).Hypoglycemia was also similar between placebo (3.1%) and treatment groups (0.0-4.5%) and there were no meaningful effects on other safety parameters