Novartis receives CHMP backing for diabetes therapies

Novartis has been granted a recommendation from Europe's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for approval of new indications of the diabetes therapies Galvus and Eucreas.

The first of these endorses the use of Galvus in combination with insulin, with or without metformin, for patients with type 2 diabetes when diet, exercise and a stable dose of insulin do not result in glycaemic control.

Meanwhile, the second recommends Eucreas in triple combination with metformin and a sulphonylurea in cases where dual therapy has failed, with both of these positive opinions based on encouraging data from recent clinical studies.

If approved, these therapies will prove to be useful options against diabetes, a condition that is estimated to kill one person every seven seconds.

David Morris, primary care franchise head of development at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "These CHMP positive opinions are important milestones in our efforts to offer physicians and patients effective and generally well-tolerated additional treatment options to help reach and maintain blood sugar goals."

This comes after the company also recently received a CHMP recommendation for Votubia, a treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.