Merck Sharp and Dohme and Pfizer report positive diabetes drug trial data

Merck Sharp and Dohme and Pfizer have announced new clinical trial data showing the effectiveness of their new therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Results from the phase III study VERTIS SITA2 have shown that ertugliflozin, an investigational oral SGLT2 inhibitor for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, was able to meet its primary endpoint in the trial.

Both the five mg and 15 mg daily doses of the drug showed significantly greater reductions in blood glucose levels compared with placebo when given to patients on a background of sitagliptin and stable metformin.

Based on these findings, the companies plan to file for US regulatory approval of the drug before the end of the year, with additional submissions for territories beyond the US scheduled for next year.

Dr Peter Stein, vice-president for late-stage development, diabetes and endocrinology at Merck Sharp and Dohme, said: "It is encouraging to see further data from the VERTIS clinical development programme in support of combining ertugliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, with the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin, which was first approved ten years ago."

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