EFN

According to two new European studies, Lantus, a top selling diabetes drug made by Sanofi-Aventis, may dramatically increase the chance of developing various cancers.

Shares in the French company have collapsed on concerns regarding Lantus’s safety profile, however a rep from the company claims the issue had been mainly a stock market event, with the medical community far less impressed by the results of the studies.

The EASD issued two studies that indicated raised rates of cancer with patients taking Lantus. The first study followed approximately 100,000 German diabetics and showed an increased incidence rate of cancer with Lantus over other forms of insulin. The second study evaluated more than 100,000 people in Sweden and showed an increased incidence rate of breast cancer in patients taking Lantus versus other insulins.

Although the scientific community has been aware of potential cancer risks associated with insulin use for several years, these studies have highlighted the possibility that Lantus particularly might increase the risk of cancer.

Sanofi-Aventis said clinical trials do not show a connection between Lantus and cancer, but plans to continue monitoring the drug’s safety.

“We don’t find any evidence of increased risk,” said the company’s chief medical officer Jean-Pierre Lehner . “As a company, we want to take the scientific high road and we want to make sure that if there are appropriate scientific questions, we want to answer them.”

He added that patient safety is the primary concern of Sanofi-Aventis and that the group intends to continue vigorous monitoring of Lantus’ safety.