Diabetes News
Novartis seeks EU approval for diabetes drug Galvus
ZURICH, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Swiss drug group Novartis (NOVN.VX) said on Thursday it had submitted its oral drug Galvus to European authorities for approval as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes.
Novartis said data included with the filing show significant long-term control of blood sugar levels.
Novartis's Galvus and rival Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) Januvia are competing intensely to enter the lucrative market of oral treatments for Type 2 diabetes. Both have been touted by analysts as potential $1 billion-a-year plus sellers.
They represent the first of a class of drugs called DPP-IV inhibitors, which work by enhancing the body's own ability to lower blood sugar levels.
Analysts believe DPP-IV drugs are likely to become a popular treatment in the oral anti-diabetes market, since they are not associated with weight gain, a major side effect of many diabetes drugs.
The two drugs have already been filed for approval with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and, if given a green light, could be launched next year in a neck-and-neck race.
Galvus is one of two big blockbuster hopes for the Swiss drug group, which wants to show it can still get megabrands to market after a relatively lean period for major new drug launches.
Diabetes, which is linked with obesity, affects about 195 million people worldwide and the number of sufferers could top 330 million by 2025, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
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