BMS and AstraZeneca drug shows GC measures reductions

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has announced the results of a phase III study showing that Onglyza (saxagliptin) has shown significant reductions in important measures of glucose control (GC) in treatment naive patients with type two diabetes.

The results of this 24-week study were presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

Saxagliptin is a selective and reversible dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-4) enzyme inhibitor currently in development by BMS and AstraZeneca.

In the study, the compound showed significant reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin level [A1C], fasting plasma glucose [FPG] and postprandial glucose [PPG] compared to placebo.

Julio Rosenstock, director of Dallas Diabetes and Endocrine Centre at Medical City, and also clinical professor of medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, said: “Diabetes is a serious and chronic condition that affects nearly 21 million people in the US and, unfortunately, this number is only going to rise.”

He added that new therapies must be researched and developed to help in the treatment of the growing diabetes epidemic.

BMS and AstraZeneca signed a partnership agreement in January 2007 for saxagliptin and sodium-glucose cotransport-2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin.

Under the terms of the deal, AstraZeneca paid an initial licence fee of $100 million (51 million pounds), with an additional $650 million to be paid upon the attainment of development and regulatory milestones and up to $300 million per product in sales royalties.