Advisory Panel Recommends Approval of Diabetes Drug Canagliflozin

January 14th, 2013

Advisory Panel Recommends Approval of Diabetes Drug Canagliflozin

Christine Sadlowski, MS

An advisory committee to the FDA recommended approving canagliflozin, a new type of drug for type 2 diabetes, late last week, the New York Times reports.

The once-daily oral drug is a selective sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor. It prevents reabsorption of glucose by the kidney, thereby increasing glucose excretion in the urine and reducing blood glucose levels. In studies of more than 10,000 patients, the drug also led to weight loss and blood pressure reductions.

Some panel members reportedly had concerns about the potential for adverse cardiovascular effects in people with moderately impaired renal function. The panel did not recommend the drug for patients with severe renal impairment.

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January 14th, 2013