Sanofi diabetes drug Toujeo wins European green light

[February 27, 2015]  LONDON (Reuters) - French drugmaker Sanofi's new Toujeo diabetes drug has been recommended for approval in Europe, two days after being cleared to go on sale in the United States, regulators said on Friday.

The positive decision from a committee of experts at the European Medicines Agency had been expected and will pave the way for the long-lasting insulin product to go on sale soon in Sanofi's chosen first European markets of Germany and Britain.

Recommendations for marketing approval by the agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) are normally endorsed by the European Commission within a couple of months.

Toujeo is a more potent follow-up to the Sanofi's top-selling Lantus drug, which accounts for a fifth of the company's sales. Sanofi is hoping to convert patients to Toujeo as Lantus faces loss of patient protection.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Tom Bergin)

[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.