Lantus And Cancer Risk

Although there have been discussions that the drug Lantus (insulin glargine), which is used for treating diabetes allegedly boosts cancer risk, the Food and Drug Administration of US (FDA) is still urging diabetic patients not to stop using the medication.

Four studies conducted in Germany, Sweden, Scotland and UK were published in the Diabetologia, out of which three suggested that there are direct links between Lantus and increase in the risk of various cancer. The insulin analogue has been manufactured by Sanofi-aventis, a reputed drug company from France. Lantus is an artificial form of insulin which is used for controlling blood sugar levels in both type one and type two diabetic patients. It is taken by the patients once in a day in the form of injection.

When the first study conducted in Germany was submitted to the Diabetologia, the EASD (the Journal of European Association for Study of Diabetes) said that nothing should be done or announced unless more studies refute or confirm the findings. Hence, three more studies were conducted in this regard, two out of which confirmed that Lantus is linked to increased cancer risk.

As per FDA, duration of patient in all the studies was shorter than what is required to evaluate for cancer risk from the drug exposure. Apart from that, there are no proven facts to show that there is direct association of Lantus with increased cancer risk, so it would not be wise to stop using the drug all at once. The FDA also said that different types of patients were used to conduct the studies and this may have influenced the conclusions to a large extent. It urged the diabetic patients to continue using the drug unless they are suggested by a professional physician. Immediate stopping of the drug may have long term as well as immediate adverse effects on the patient’s health.

American Diabetes Association in a statement said that even if the patients switch from Lantus to any other type of insulin supplement, it is not clear that whether the cancer risks are developed by only one form of insulin or by all. It also urged diabetic patients not to stop taking the drug without consulting a doctor and they should not rely entirely upon these findings.

FDA said that the safety issues about Lantus are still being reviewed and they will also ask Sanofi-aventis to further study this issue. A spokesperson for Sanofi said in Wall Street Journal that they are working in this relation with the FDA and other scientific experts and will do their best to prove the injection’s safety. In the mean time, users of Lantus are urged to report any side effects to the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program of FDA.