AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for KOMBOGLYZE™ (saxagliptin and metformin HCl immediate-release fixed dose combination) that will cover the 27 Member States of the European Union. The indication for KOMBOGLYZE is as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adult patients aged 18 years and older with Type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on their maximally tolerated dose of metformin alone or those already being treated with the combination of saxagliptin and metformin as separate tablets.
KOMBOGLYZE combines saxagliptin (ONGLYZA®), a DPP-4 inhibitor, and metformin immediate-release (metformin IR), a biguanide, in one convenient tablet for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The approval of KOMBOGLYZE is based on a saxagliptin development programme that involved 4,326 patients, including 2,158 individuals receiving saxagliptin plus metformin. In the development programme, saxagliptin and metformin were administered as separate components. The bioequivalence of KOMBOGLYZE to co-administered saxagliptin and metformin was demonstrated in additional studies.
About Type 2 Diabetes
By the end of 2011, diabetes is estimated to affect nearly 53 million people aged 20-79 in Europe, and this figure is projected to rise to more than 64 million by 2030.2 Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90 to 95% of all cases of diagnosed diabetes in adults. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease characterised by insulin resistance and/or dysfunction of beta cells in the pancreas, which decreases insulin sensitivity and secretion, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Over time, this sustained hyperglycaemia contributes to worsening insulin resistance and further beta cell dysfunction. Significant unmet needs exist as nearly half of treated patients remain uncontrolled on their current glucose-lowering regimen.
Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Collaboration
Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca entered into a collaboration in January 2007 to enable the companies to research, develop and commercialise select investigational drugs for Type 2 diabetes. The Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca diabetes collaboration is dedicated to global patient care, improving patient outcomes and creating a new vision for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.