AstraZeneca releases results of dapagliflozen trial

AstraZeneca has revealed the outcome of a 24-week phase III study into the diabetes drug dipagliflozen.

The trial discovered that the treatment demonstrated mean reductions in the primary endpoint, glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) and in the secondary endpoint, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in patients with type 2 diabetes when added to metformin.

Dipagliflozen is a novel selective sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, currently in phase III trials and under joint development by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Cliff Bailey, professor of clinical science and head of diabetes research at Aston University in Birmingham, said: “Given the continued rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes, development of novel treatments such as SGLT2 inhibitors are needed to help improve glycemic control.”

This news comes after AstraZeneca announced that it has been granted permission to distribute its once-daily Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets) and Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) bipolar disorder treatments by the European Mutual Recognition Procedure.