Gilead Sciences’ Ranexa shows angina benefits for diabetes patients

Gilead Sciences has announced encouraging results from a phase IV trial assessing the benefits its angina therapy Ranexa can provide for diabetes sufferers.

Data from the Terisa study showed that the addition of Ranexa to background antianginal therapy in chronic angina patients with type 2 diabetes significantly reduced the frequency of weekly angina episodes compared to placebo.

This is a potentially important discovery, as patients with diabetes generally tend to have more extensive coronary artery disease and a propensity for a greater angina burden.

Currently, Ranexa is only approved as a treatment for chronic angina, but Gilead is carrying out several studies – including the Terisa trial – to demonstrate the benefits it can provide for diabetes patients.

Dr Mikhail Kosiborod, associate professor of medicine at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, said: "Given the high prevalence of angina in patients with diabetes, there is a need for effective therapeutic strategies in this difficult-to-treat population."

Last month, the company announced positive data from a phase III trial of sofosbuvir, a new therapy for treatment-experienced patients with genotype 2 or 3 chronic hepatitis C virus.