GlaxoSmithKline: Data shows benefits of Avandaryl in patients with type 2 diabetes

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, June 12 - GlaxoSmithKline said Saturday that new research shows the benefits of the initial use of Avandaryl in helping people with type 2 diabetes achieve blood sugar targets and improving insulin sensitivity.

These data suggest that treatment of drug-naïve people with Avandaryl may be more efficacious than using one therapy alone, according to a company news release.

Avandaryl is the only therapy available that combines a thiazolidinedione, rosiglitazone maleate - separately marketed as Avandia - with a sulfonylurea, glimepiride - separately marketed as Amaryl - to treat type 2 diabetes.

"Using more effective treatment approaches earlier in the course of the disease, including the use of combination medications, is important for the management of type 2 diabetes," said Barry Goldstein, director of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic diseases at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

In this study, people taking Avandaryl had a rapid reduction in FPG levels, seen as early as after two weeks, officials said.

Also, superior reductions in A1C levels were seen with Avandaryl compared to rosiglitazone or glimepiride, with significantly more patients reaching the A1C goals recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Avandaryl was generally well-tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to its component therapies. There was a similar incidence of confirmed hypoglycemic events with Avandaryl as compared to glimepiride.

The study results were presented at the American Diabetes Association's annual scientific sessions in Washington, D.C.

GlaxoSmithKline is a London pharmaceutical and health care products company.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.