Since coming to Canada in 1984, Novo Nordisk has become the Canadian market leader in insulin products, both in terms of market share as well as the wide ranging portfolio of products and services that the company provides to patients and professionals. But it’s not the only feather in the cap of the Danish-based company, which is recognized as a global leader in diabetes care with nearly 85 years of experience in the field. In addition to a broad base of diabetes products and advanced devices for the injection and delivery of insulin, Novo Nordisk is a leader in therapeutic areas such as coagulation disorders, growth disorders, and hormone replacement therapy.

The company’s most outstanding contribution to the treatment of diabetes is in modernizing insulin therapy through new insulin analogues and delivery systems. Today the company’s modern analogue portfolio includes Levemir, NovoRapid, and NovoMix 30, available in a novel cartridge format used in the Novolin-Pen 4, an easy to use injection device. These developments reinforce Novo Nordisk’s goal of “Changing diabetes in Canada,” says Vince Lamanna, President of Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. “It also means getting involved in diabetes prevention activities that we know can make a difference in curbing the growing diabetes numbers.”

The company has partnered with the Canadian Diabetes Association in a number of unique disease awareness programs such as a landmark $100,000 donation to the Banting House National Historic Site of Canada, to create a computerized, interactive diabetes “wall of fame” and website commemorating the discovery of insulin in Canada, and the “Everyone Jump: Kids Changing Diabetes” campaign, an innovative school-based program designed to enlighten grade 5 children about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating as a foundation for long-term health.

“We have a strong commitment not only to treat people with diabetes who currently have it so that they can live better and longer lives, but to also help prevent Type II diabetes, which is a very preventable disease,” says Lamanna. He points to the “Changing Diabetes Bus Tour,” a mobile, cross-Canada program rolled out to spread the word about diabetes prevention through diet and exercise. The mobile program has been an integral part of preparations for World Diabetes Day Nov. 14th, and “the first time that a non-infectious disease has been recognized by the United Nations as a serious global health threat,” observes Lamanna.

With the “single largest private diabetes research budget” globally, Lamanna promises there will be plenty of innovation coming from Novo Nordisk in the future.

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