FDA approves NovoPen Echo insulin delivery system

The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for the NovoPen Echo insulin delivery system from Novo Nordisk which will be available to patients for use with NovoLog (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) PenFill cartridges. Novo Nordisk plans to make NovoPen Echo available in the US in early 2014. NovoPen Echo has already launched in Europe, Canada, and Israel.

This marks the first and only pen device in the US with half-unit dosing and a memory function that records the dose and time passed since the last injection. Half-unit dose increments allow for finer adjustments, which can be particularly important for children.