Bristol-Myers Squibb assesses safety of dapagliflozin as diabetes treatment

Bristol-Myers Squibb has assessed the safety and tolerability of dapagliflozin after 14 days as an add-on to Insulin in adult patients with Type 1 Diabetes.

The study found that, of patients treated with the drug, no one discontinued as a result of a lack of glycemic control, while few genital and urinary tract infections were reported. Hypoglycemia was also observed in all treatment groups.

As well as this, mean daily blood glucose derived from 7-point glucose measurements trended downward in all treatment groups through day seven, while reductions in total daily insulin dosing at day seven were observed with dapagliflozin.

The drug is an investigational oral compound and works as a selective and reversible inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2, which runs independently of insulin.

Dapagliflozin has been approved for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.

Briggs Morrison, executive vice president Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer, AstraZeneca, said: “We are excited to have the opportunity to explore the potential of dapagliflozin in patients with type 1 diabetes.

“The AstraZeneca/Bristol-Myers Squibb Diabetes Alliance is dedicated to addressing the global burden of diabetes by advancing individualized patient care and these study results, while preliminary, align with this commitment.”

Last year, diabetes was estimated to impact over 370 million people across the globe, with the illness expected to affect over 550 million by 2030.

Type 2 diabetes represents around 90 to 95 per cent of all incidents of diagnosed diabetes in adults, whereas type 1 diabetes is regularly diagnosed in children and young adults.

Robert Henry, director, Centre for Metabolic Research VA San Diego Healthcare System and primary study investigator, said: “Many people with type 1 diabetes may benefit from other treatment options in addition to insulin.

“These preliminary data with dapagliflozin added on to insulin are encouraging and support the need for further studies.”

Posted by Neil Clark