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TAK-875 controls blood sugar, reduces hypoglycemia risk
An experimental diabetes drug, TAK-875, demonstrated its ability to improve blood-sugar control with a low risk of hypoglycemia, according to phase 2 study results published online February 27 in The Lancet.
An experimental diabetes drug, TAK-875, demonstrated its ability to improve blood-sugar control with a low risk of hypoglycemia, according to phase 2 study results published online February 27 in The Lancet.
“The expected increase in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes during the next few decades, and the recognition that existing treatments either have insufficient effect on a disease that is progressive in nature or are associated with side effects that might restrict their use, emphasizes the need for additional therapeutic agents,” said Charles Burant, MD, PhD, professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Health System, and colleagues.
The researchers designed this randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-comparator-controlled trial to assess whether selective pharmacological activation of free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1) by TAK-875 would improve glycemic control without hypoglycemia risk in patients with type 2 diabetes who had not responded to diet, exercise, or metformin treatment.
Between November 17, 2009, and September 29, 2010, the researchers randomly assigned 426 patients at 95 sites in the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala to 1 of 5 doses of TAK-875 (n=303), placebo (n=61), or glimepiride (n=62) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from the start of the study.
Results showed that TAK-875 was well-tolerated and that, at 12 weeks, all doses of TAK-875 resulted in significant reductions in HbA1c from baseline (ranging from −1.12% with 50 mg to −0.65% with 6.25 mg) compared with placebo (−0.13%). A similar reduction was noted with glimepiride (−1.05%); however, significantly higher rates of treatment-emergent hypoglycemic events were reported in the glimepiride group (19% [n=12] vs 2% [n=7, all TAK-875 groups], 3% [n=2, placebo]).
The investigators noted that the results were promising but acknowledged their small sample size.
“As with all novel treatments, additional studies of longer duration to assess true efficacy, durability of clinical efficacy, and safety of TAK-875 will be needed to establish the appropriate placement of FFAR1 agonists in the treatment framework for type 2 diabetes,” they wrote.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
