AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb report positive Onglyza data

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb have announced results from new analysis of Onglyza, which illustrate the significant benefits it can provide to type 2 diabetes patients.

Results from a pooled post-hoc assessment of five 24-week phase III studies encompassing 1,681 patients have shown that the drug is able to deliver improvements across key measures of blood sugar control compared to placebo.

The patients involved in the study were affected by varying degrees of cardiovascular risk, characterised by the presence of known risk factors or a history of cardiovascular disease.

Dr William Cook, lead investigator and global medical affairs manager at AstraZeneca, said: "This data is important because it furthers our understanding of the safety and efficacy of lowering blood sugar with Onglyza in adult patients with type 2 diabetes who are also at risk for cardiovascular disease."

Onglyza is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in multiple clinical settings.

Last month, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb published positive data from a clinical study of the investigational diabetes compound dapagliflozin, which is set to be marketed under the brand name Forxiga if approved by regulators.