FDA Approves New Drug for Type 2 Diabetes
The agency approves Farxiga tablets, designed to help glycemic control
Yesterday, the FDA approved the drug Farxiga for treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults. The drug—when combined with an optimal diet and exercise—can improve glycemic control, according to a press release from the FDA.
Around 24 million people are affected by Type 2 diabetes, and according to Curtis Rosebraugh, the director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II at the FDA, Farxiga “provides an additional treatment option” for those diagnosed with diabetes. The drug—a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor—blocks the reabsorption of glucose by the kidney, which increases glucose excretion and lowers blood glucose levels, according to the press release. The FDA evaluated the effectives and safety of the drug in 16 clinical trials including upwards of 9,400 people with Type 2 diabetes. The drug is not intended for use with patients that have Type 1 diabetes.
The study did find an increased number of bladder cancer diagnoses among Farxiga users, according to the press release. The drug can also cause dehydration and therefore a drop in blood pressure. One other side effect the study found was urinary tract infections.