Type-2 diabetes oral pill Saxagliptin launched in India

Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca cut prices of diabetes pill saxagliptin (Onglyza) in India

Bristol-Myers Squibb India and AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd have launched their new oral pill Saxagliptin to treat type2 diabetes in India.

Saxagliptin, which is marketed under the brand name Onglyza has been approved in 38 countries, including the United States and member states of the European Union and is submitted for regulatory review in more than 50 countries.

The drug is launched in India at an affordable price which is 1/5 of its US cost, reports said.

Saxagliptin (Onglyza) was approved by the FDA in July 2009 and is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in adults for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Saxagliptin once daily can be used in combination with commonly prescribed oral anti-diabetic medications – metformin, sulfonylureas or thiazolidinediones (TZD) – or as a monotherapy to significantly reduce glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) levels.

Most drugs for diabetes focus on controlling glucose levels at the fasting pre-meal glucose stage. As the disease progresses, a patient’s glucose level cannot be measured and controlled at fasting pre-meal glucose levels alone.

The spike in blood glucose levels post meals (postprandial glucose levels) also needs to be monitored and controlled. Consistently keeping postprandial glucose levels in control is difficult and usually poses a challenge. As the disease continues to progress further a measure of average blood glucose over two to three months is monitored, commonly known as the A1c level. Together, these three measures for monitoring blood glucose are known as the glucose triad. New medicines are needed to comprehensively control this glucose triad.

Saxagliptin belongs to the class of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. These are designed to enhance the body’s ability to decrease blood sugar (glucose) when it is elevated by acting on the natural hormones, incretins, thereby increasing insulin production, and by reducing the liver’s production of glucose. It is therefore able to control the glucose triad effectively.

Saxagliptin does not increase the risk of hypoglycemia and is weight neutral. It does not require a dose adjustment regardless of age, gender, race, weight or hepatic impairment, stated the company release.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Pharma have an alliance to develop and commercialize two compounds for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Both compounds were discovered by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

By launching jointly saxagliptin in India, the Indian arms of Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Pharma came together in India for the first time.

BMS will launch its investigational drug dapagliflozin together with AstraZeneca in the coming years.

Introduction of saxagliptin into India comes close on the heels of the launch of the drug in the US and in Europe.

India is the first Asian country where saxagliptin is available.