New diabetes treatment option for Pinoy patients

MANILA, Philippines - An estimated three million people in the country have type 2 diabetes. Controlling blood sugar levels is difficult even among patients receiving treatment and only less than 30 percent of Filipino patients are meeting their recommended blood sugar goals. When left untreated or inadequately controlled, type 2 diabetes can lead to heart and kidney disease, blindness, and vascular or neurologic problems.

“Current therapies for type 2 diabetes such as sulfonylurea, metformin and diet are unable to prevent or delay the progressive loss of beta-cell function. A drug like vildagliptin that improves beta-cell mass and insulin sensitivity will enhance blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. With good blood sugar control, patients are protected from cardiovascular disease and other diabetes complications,” said Dr. Wolfgang Schmidt, chairman and professor of Internal Medicine at the Ruhr-University of Bochum School of Medicine in Germany, and speaker at the Philippine Society of Endocrinology meeting.

Vildagliptin is a member of a new class of anti-diabetes medicine called DPP-4 inhibitors. It targets islet dysfunction in the pancreatic alpha and beta cells by blocking the enzyme DPP-4. This increases the ability of the cells to appropriately sense and respond to sugar in the blood, thus improving blood sugar control. Clinical studies in over 20,000 patients have shown that vildagliptin is effective in producing significant blood sugar reductions with a good tolerability profile including no weight gain.

“We welcome the availability of novel therapeutic options such as vildagliptin that have the potential to address gaps in type 2 diabetes management. Type 2 diabetes remains among the 10 leading causes of sickness and death in the country. The development of new, effective anti-diabetes drugs like vildagliptin is certainly good news to Filipino diabetics,” said Dr. Tommy Ty-Willing, president and chairman of the Council in Complications of Diabetes Philippines (formerly Philippine Diabetes Association).

Research-based Swiss healthcare company Novartis, which pioneered the development of DPP-4 inhibitors, markets vildagliptin and a single-pill combination of vildagliptin and metformin.

Both drugs are approved as oral treatments for type 2 diabetes patients either as monotherapy or in combination with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or a thiazolidinedione.

“Novartis is focused on improving the lives of the millions of people with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Through vildagliptin, patients with type 2 diabetes now have a better way to control their diabetes,” said Dr. Francis Domingo, chief scientific officer of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

As a global leader in cardiovascular and metabolic health for nearly 50 years, Novartis provides innovative therapies and support programs to treat high blood pressure and diabetes — both major public health issues.

The portfolio includes the world’s most-prescribed angiotensin receptor blocker, valsartan; the first and only approved direct renin inhibitor, alis­kiren; a single pill combining two leading high blood pressure medicines, amlodipine and valsartan; and a novel DPP-4 inhibitor for diabetes, vildagliptin.

Novartis is dedicated to helping physicians and patients through effective medicines, programs and an ongoing commitment to research.