Merck Sharpe and Dohme launches new diabetes treatment

Merck Sharpe and Dohme has released a new type 2 diabetes therapy in the UK which combines the effects of two major treatment options.

The company’s new product Janumet is a once-daily tablet treatment which consists of the commonly-used drug metformin and the DPP-4 inhibitor Januvia.

It is designed to reduce the risk of weight gain and hypoglycaemia associated with older diabetes drugs, while its combined action is intended to offer patients with a more convenient and easier-to-manage treatment option.

The announcement comes alongside results from a OnePoll survey which shows that almost half of UK patients incorrectly believe that injections represent the main method of treating type 2 diabetes.

Gloucestershire GP Dr Dawn Harper said this misconception should not put undiagnosed patients off coming forward, saying: “If fears exist around injections, people need to know that many type 2 diabetics don’t need injections to manage their condition.”

Last week, Merck Sharpe and Dohme announced the launch of a new global clinical trial network, which is designed to help it conduct research into new cancer treatments and vaccines.