Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) and AstraZeneca (AZN, AZN.L) announced results from a Phase 3 clinical study that showed the investigational compound dapagliflozin 10 mg demonstrated significant reductions in blood sugar levels (glycosylated hemoglobin levels, or HbA1c) compared with placebo at 24 weeks when either agent was added to existing sitagliptin therapy (with or without metformin) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.
The results were maintained over a 24-week extension and similar results were observed when the data were stratified by background therapy.
The companies said that the study also demonstrated significant reductions in total body weight and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in patients taking dapagliflozin added to sitagliptin (with or without metformin), with results maintained throughout the duration of the study extension.
Patients were actively questioned at each study visit for signs, symptoms or events suggestive of genital infections and urinary tract infections. These events were more frequent with the dapagliflozin treatment group compared to the placebo treatment group, and were generally mild to moderate in intensity, with most patients responding to standard treatment.
Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca entered into a collaboration in January 2007 to enable the companies to research, develop and commercialize 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.
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