ONGLYZA CHMP positive opinion

RNS Number : 5457U

AstraZeneca PLC

26 June 2009

 



ONGLYZA (SAXAGLIPTIN) RECEIVES POSITIVE OPINION IN EUROPE FOR THE TREATMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company have announced that their marketing authorisation application for ONGLYZA (saxagliptin) received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults as add-on therapy with metformin, a thiazolidinedione or a sulphonylurea.

The positive opinion was reached after the CHMP reviewed data from a comprehensive clinical development programme that included six core Phase III trials assessing the safety and efficacy of saxagliptin as a once daily therapy. These involved 4,148 patients with type 2 diabetes, including 3,021 patients treated with saxagliptin.

Saxagliptin belongs to the class of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. These are designed to enhance the body's ability to decrease blood sugar (glucose) when it is elevated by acting on the natural hormones, incretins, thereby increasing insulin production, and by reducing the liver's production of glucose.

This application to the CHMP is for use as a once daily 5mg dose in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control:

	in combination with metformin, when metformin alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control;
	in combination with a sulphonylurea, when the sulphonylurea alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control in patients for whom use of metformin is considered inappropriate; or
	in combination with a thiazolidinedione, when the thiazolidinedione alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control in patients for whom use of a thiazolidinedione is considered appropriate.

The CHMP's positive opinion on ONGLYZA will now be reviewed by the European Commission which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union. AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb expect the European Commission to issue its decision on a Marketing Authorisation for this type 2 diabetes investigational drug in the European Union in the coming months. 

About DPP-4 Inhibitors

DPP-4 inhibitors are a class of compounds that work by affecting the action of natural hormones in the body called incretins. Incretins decrease elevated blood sugar levels (glucose) by increasing the body's utilisation of sugar, mainly through increasing insulin production in the pancreas and decreasing glucagon secretion.

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb partnership

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb entered into a collaboration in January 2007 to enable the companies to research, develop and commercialise two investigational drugs for type 2 diabetes - saxagliptin and dapagliflozin. The AstraZeneca/Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes collaboration is dedicated to global patient care, improving patient outcomes and creating a new vision for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US$ 31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: www.astrazeneca.com

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.

ONGLYZA is a trademark of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

CONTACTS:

AstraZeneca Media Enquiries UK:
Chris Sampson	[phone] (24 hours)
Neil McCrae	[phone] (24 hours)
Sarah Lindgreen	[phone] (24 hours)
Bristol-Myers Squibb Media Enquiries:
Carmel Hogan	[phone]
AstraZeneca Investor Enquiries UK:
Jonathan Hunt	[phone]	mob: [phone]
AstraZeneca Investor Enquiries US:
Ed Seage	[phone]	mob: [phone]
Jorgen Winroth	[phone]	mob: [phone]
Bristol-Myers Squibb Investor Enquiries:
John Elicker	[phone]

26 June 2009

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