AstraZeneca India launches FORXIGA for type 2 diabetes
FORXIGA belongs to a new class of type 2 diabetes mellitus medication, a highly selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose co transporter 2 (SGLT2). It has an unique insulin independent mode of action that helps remove excess glucose from the body via urine which is associated with reductions in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), weight and systolic blood pressure.
Globally, FORXIGA is the first medicine in the new SGLT2 inhibitor class to gain regulatory approval for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
FORXIGA tablets are indicated as a once-daily oral medication to improve glycaemic control in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. FORXIGA is indicated to be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise in combination with other glucose-lowering medicinal products, including insulin, or as a monotherapy in metformin-intolerant patients.
Diabetes mellitus is a disease of epidemic scale in India, with more than 63 million affected people. With many diabetic patients remaining uncontrolled in their glucose lowering regimen, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus being increasingly associated with overweight/obesity, a term coined as ‘ Diabesity’ by researchers, FORXIGA offers a new treatment approach for patients and physicians that helps in improving glycaemic control with added benefits of weight loss and blood pressure reduction
FORXIGA is currently approved in more than 40 countries. In India, it has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India on Feb 25, 2015 supported by a broad clinical development programme comprising 11,801 patients in various clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of FORXIGA.
Sanjay Murdeshwar, Managing Director, AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited said, “FORXIGA represents a significant advancement in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus with global safety and efficacy data of 4 years. It is an important addition to our innovative anti-diabetic portfolio; strengthening our commitment to transform patient care in diabetes by offering an additional treatment option for over 63 million diabetic patients in India.”
Dr. Bhavesh Kotak, Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited explained “Reaching treatment goals of diabetic patients continues to be a challenge in spite of multiple therapeutic options of oral and injectable anti diabetic agents.
FORXIGA works by blocking reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys.
Excess glucose gets excreted via urine helping patients achieve glycaemic control, a major treatment goal”
AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases.
FORXIGA is available in the markets from May 2015.
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