Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca publish first phase II dapagliflozin results

In conjunction with its partner AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the publication of the first results of a phase IIa study of dapagliflozin as a treatment for patients with type two diabetes, administered both together with metformin and in isolation.

The results show the safety profile of multiple doses of the compound, with no serious side effects reported and no patients discontinuing treatment as a result of adverse effects.

Furthermore, the companies also reported that the patients administered with the compound exhibited reduced fasting serum glucose (FSG) and post challenge glucose excursion.

Dapagliflozin is a selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 versus SLGT 1, which operates by modulating the reabsorption of glucose in the kidney in order to reduce the level of blood glucose independent of the action or release of insulin.

“On day 13, the FSG was significantly reduced in participants receiving dapagliflozin with or without metformin as compared to their FSG levels two days prior to first dose,” Bristol-Myers Squibb reports.

In January 2007, the company signed a partnership agreement with AstraZeneca relating to the development and marketing of two treatments for diabetes discovered by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

AstraZeneca paid the firm an initial licensing fee of $100 million (51.37 million pounds), with further payments of up to $650 million to be paid upon reaching certain landmarks and up to $300 million for each drug in sales royalties.