Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca commence diabetes drug trial

Bristol-Myers Squibb and collaborative partner AstraZeneca have commenced a new phase IV drug trial for one of their diabetes treatments.

The companies are launching the SAVOR-TIMI 53 trial in order to test the safety and efficacy of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor Onglyza among type 2 diabetes sufferers with cardiovascular health problems.

This will allow the companies to fulfil a post-marketing requirement imposed by the Food and Drug Administration, which first approved the treatment in July 2009.

Dr Eugene Braunwald, chairman of the TIMI Study Group, will help to lead the clinical study, which is to be conducted over a period of five years.

He said the results gathered from the trial will help in the elimination of “unacceptable cardiovascular risk” in the treatment of diabetes.

Last week, Bristol-Myers Squibb reported that a recent clinical trial of its oral anticoagulant apixaban, developed in partnership with Pfizer, has supported its effectiveness.