Both Januvia and Galvus help preserve the beta cells in the pancreas.
These are the cells that produce insulin. They inhibit an enzyme called
dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-IV), which breaks down hormones that help
control blood sugar.
In a 800 patient study, Januvia was tested over a year period and was
found to control blood sugar levels as well as the current treatment, glipizide (Glucotrol), a commonly used diabetes drug sold by
Bristol-Myers Squibb. While patients on the traditional drug, glipzide,
gained an average of 2.4 pounds, the Januvia patients actually lost
weight. Also, 32% of the patients on Glucovance had an
episode of low blood sugar, while only 5% of those on Januvia did. The
Januvia side effects were similar to the side effects of the placebo
sugar pill.
Galvus shows as much promise. A combination of Galvus and Actos, a
diabetes medicine made by Takeda Pharmaceutical, allowed two-thirds of
patients in one large study to adequately control their diabetes.
Severely obese patients actually lost weight on the combination
therapy. Novartis will begin what they are calling the “GLORIUS” trials
to prove the drugs benefits.
Industry watchers say that for Galvus to be as effective as Januvia,
patients will need to take it twice a day. Patients will only need to
take Januvia once a day. Both drugs are expected to replace the current
medicines as the first line treatment for diabetes.
James Shannon, MD, Head of Development at Novartis Pharmaceutical said
"The magnitude of A1c reductions seen with the combination of Galvus and
a TZD is encouraging for patients struggling to reach and maintain their
blood sugar levels. The trial results for Galvus continue to reinforce
the benefits of treating both islet dysfunction and insulin resistance
in type 2 diabetes.”
A spokesperson for Novarti said throughout the Phase III program, Galvus
has shown clinically significant and consistent A1c reductions both as
monotherapy and in combination with other oral and injectable
anti-diabetic agents. Galvus has demonstrated a good tolerability
profile in these studies; with no weight gain overall and an incidence
of hypoglycemia (excessively low blood sugar) and edema (fluid
retention) similar to placebo in monotherapy trials.
Reuters reports that Merck has said it expects the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to decide whether to approve Januvia by mid-October. The
companies presented their data at the American Diabetes Association's
66th annual meeting.
Dan Wilson
Best Syndication
Books
on Diabetes
Keywords an misspellings: diabets suger
blode bloode diabetec biabetes
