History of Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a Danish Healthcare company that is involved in active research and manufacture of Insulin, growth hormone, enzymes, antihaemophilic factor and blood protein products. Two parent companies Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium (1923) and Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium (1925) initially started their journeys as rivals. However, there was a similarity between the two companies. Both of them were involved in manufacturing of insulin and active diabetes research. Finally Novo Industri A/S and Nordisk Gentofte A/S merged in the year 1989 to become Novo Nordisk A/S – the world’s leading producer of insulin.
Diabetes mellitus (DM)
Diabetes mellitus is caused either
(i) due to lack of production of insulin in pancreas or
(ii) may be the cells of the body are not responding to insulin properly (insulin resistance).
There are mainly three types of diabetes mellitus:
.
- Type 1 DM results from the pancreas's failure to produce enough insulin. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes". The cause is unknown.
- Type 2 DM begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly. As the disease progresses a lack of insulin may also develop. This form was previously referred to as "non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM) or "adult-onset diabetes". The primary cause is excessive body weight and not enough exercise.
- Gestational diabetes, is the third main form and occurs when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop high blood-sugar levels.
Insulin
Insulin is a peptide hormone that is produced by the beta cells in the pancreas.
Functions of insulin
- It regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats by promoting the absorption of glucose from the blood to skeletal muscles and fat tissue and by causing fat to be stored rather than used for energy.
- Insulin also inhibits the production of glucose by the liver.
Structure of insulin polypeptide
Insulin consists of two polypeptide chains, the A- and B- chains, linked together by disulfide bonds.
Manufacturing of insulin
Initially insulin was isolated and purified from bovine (cow) pancreas. Later pig insulin was used which is more similar to human insulin. Novo created an insulin similar to human insulin by extracting insulin from the pancreases of pigs and then converting it to human insulin.
Products of Novo Nordisk
Human insulins
Insulatard® Human insulin
Actrapid® Human insulin
Mixtard® 30 Biphasic human insulin
Mixtard® 40 Biphasic human insulin
Mixtard® 50 Biphasic human insulin
Oral antidiabetic agents
NovoNorm® Repaglinide
PrandiMet® Repaglinide/metformin
Diabetes devices
FlexTouch® Prefilled insulin delivery system
FlexPen® Prefilled insulin delivery system
NovoPen® 4 Durable insulin delivery system
NovoPen® 5 Durable insulin delivery system with memory function
NovoPen Echo® Durable insulin delivery system
InnoLet® Prefilled insulin delivery system
NovoFine® Needle
NovoFine® Plus Needle
NovoFine® AutoCover® Needle
NovoTwist® Needle
GlucaGen® Glucagon
Haemostasis (antihaemophillic factor)
Novoseven® Recombinant factor VIIa
NovoEight® Recombinant factor VIII
NovoThirteen® Recombinant factor XIII
Human growth hormone
Norditropin® Somatropin (rDNA origin)
Norditropin® FlexPro® Prefilled multidose delivery system
Norditropin® Nordiflex Prefilled multidose delivery system
NordiPen® Prefilled multidose delivery system
PenMate® Prefilled multidose delivery system
NordiLet® Prefilled multidose delivery system
Hormone replacement therapy
Activelle® Estradiol/norethisterone acetate
Estrofem® Estradiol
Novofem® Estradiol/norethisterone acetate
Vagifem® Estradiol hemihydrate
References
N.B. This information is meant only to provide brief information to the students of NSCBIP for interview preparation.
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