Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca announce diabetes drug data

Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca have reported positive data from a phase III study of their investigational diabetes compound dapagliflozin.

Results from the 24-week trial indicate that the drug is able to deliver significant reductions in blood sugar levels compared with placebo at 24 weeks when either agent was added to existing sitagliptin therapy among adult type 2 diabetes patients.

These results were maintained in a subsequent 24-week extension study, while similar performance was observed when the data was stratified according to background therapy.

Dr Serge Jabbour, division director for endocrinology at Thomas Jefferson University, said: "These findings add to our understanding of the effect of dapagliflozin in combination with commonly prescribed type 2 diabetes treatments."

The drug received a recommendation for European Medicines Agency approval by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in April 2012.

If approved, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca intend to commercialise the drug under the trade name Forxiga.