Lilly submits exenatide NDA to FDA

Lilly has submitted a new drug application (NDA) for its exenatide once-weekly treatment to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it has announced.

The medication is an investigational sustained-release drug for people with type 2 diabetes and is injected subcutaneously once per week.

It is also the active ingredient in the Byetta therapy, which is currently available in many countries around the world for type 2 diabetes patients who cannot achieve good glycemic control with traditional oral treatments.

Dr Orville Kolterman, senior vice-president of research and development at Amylin Pharmaceuticals, said that the NDA represents an “important milestone” in the treatment of diabetes and the exenatide development programme.

He added: “If approved, this therapy could fill an important unmet need for treating patients with type 2 diabetes with just one dose per week.”

Earlier this month, Lilly published a number of hints and tips about how to stay healthy during uncertain economic times, recommending that people keep track of what they eat in order to ensure that have a healthy, balanced intake of food.