Novartis (NYSE: NVS, VTX: NOVN)recently commenced GALIANT, a a significant clinical trial designed to involve more than 7,500 people in the United States in order to compare the investigational oral type 2 diabetes medication Galvus® (vildagliptin) with commonly prescribed anti- diabetic oral medicines called thiazolidinediones (TZDs).
As reported by the International Diabetes Federation(1), diabetes currently affects about 230 million people worldwide and is estimated to grow to 350 million by 2025.
Earlier clinical trials have already demonstrated that treatment with Galvus results in consistent, significant and sustained reductions in blood sugar levels, thus leading to improved glucose control. However, the most common side effects being: cold/flu-like symptoms, headaches and dizziness.
The GALIANT study will follow up on results presented earlier this year: the conclusion that patients receiving Galvus as monotherapy resulted to similar and significant reductions in blood sugar levels to those treated with the TZD rosiglitazone (2,3).
Find more details from the Novartis press release (a pdf file).
(1) IDF, accessed October 6, 2006
(2) Rosenstock J, Baron M, Schweizer A, et al. Vildagliptin is as effective as rosiglitazone in lowering HbA1c but without weight gain in drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Presented at ADA, June 11, 2006; Washington, DC.
(3) A. Schweizer, S. Dejager, M.A. Baron, D. Mills, Y. Amiour, J. Rosenstock. Vildagliptin is as Effective as Rosiglitazone in Drug-Naïve Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Does Not Cause Weight Gain. Presented at EASD September 14, 2006.
.jpg)
Comment Preview