Diabetes Drug, Jentadueto, Reaches UK Market
Patients in the UK with type II diabetes now have access to a new alternative for managing their blood glucose levels with the launch of Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly’s new combination drug, Jentadueto, being launched in the UK this week.
Jentadueto combines two antiglycaemic therapies – the veteran drug metformin with the dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-IV inhibitor Trajenta (linagliptin) – in a single tablet, allowing for better treatment compliance by decreasing the pill burden for patients.
“Compliance is a recurring problem for patients, especially those with comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, cardiovascular disease and depression, struggling to take a number of tablets everyday,” commented GP Richard Brice, Chair of Whitstable Medical Practice.
The combination drug gained EU approval in July for use alongside diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, who were failing to stay within the adequate thresholds in spite of preceding therapy.
Regulatory clearance came as a result of Phase III clinical data demonstrating that Jentadueto resulted in a statistically substantial reduction in HbA1c of -1.7%, compared to -1.2% for metformin and -0.6% in those taking linagliptin.
A one-year additional study confirmed that the benefit was sustained, with the combination providing HbA1c reductions of up to 1.63% from baseline over the combined 1.5 year period.
Side Effects?
The results of the study also showed that the therapy is generally well-tolerated, with the rate of hypoglycaemia similar to the rate detected in the metformin monotherapy arm and, critically, there were no detected associations with a change in body weight.
Jentadueto is valued at £33.26 per pack, the same as a pack of Trajenta, a spokesperson for the company noted.
The introduction of new treatments for diabetes is particularly significant given that the occurrence of the disease is projected to increase substantially over the coming years, resulting in an unprecedented problem on healthcare resources.
By 2030, it is estimated that more than 5.5 million people across the UK will have diabetes, and if blood sugar levels are not kept in check there is a considerably greater risk of developing serious and costly related complications such as kidney disease, blindness, stroke and heart disease.
Links:
www.pharmatimes.com