Bristol-Myers Squibb looks at how diabetes medicines work

Bristol-Myers Squibb has stated it is important to understand how diabetes medicines function.

The company is co-developing an investigational, selective, reversible inhibitor of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme called Onglyza (saxagliptin).

A phase III study of the drug showed it could produce long-term glycemic improvement when administered along with metformin to patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.

Dr Roland Chen, from Bristol-Myers Squibb’s cardiovascular and metabolics division, noted the chronic disease is progressive and causes sufferers to struggle to control their blood glucose levels every day.

“It is, therefore, important for us to understand how investigational diabetes medicines work over an extended period of time,” he asserted.

Data from the clinical trial was presented at the 69th American Diabetes Association Annual Scientific Sessions.

Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers Squibb has also released data from a study of the investigational drug dapagliflozin showing it could produce improvements across all key glycemic measures in type 2 diabetes patients.

John Wilding from the University Hospital Aintree said the results suggested further examinations of the drug were needed.