| 11 Mar 2010 |
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Abu Dhabi Congress Hears of 'No Weight Gain' Diabetes Drug
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NovartisNovartis
' Galvus Offers Hope to Type 2 Diabetes Patients in UAE Where Obesity Affects More than Half the PopulationAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: A 'no weight gain' diabetes drug could help thousands of diabetes patients in the UAE who suffer from obesity-related disease, heard hundreds of healthcare professionals attending a symposium at the 1st International Abu Dhabi Diabetes Congress this weekend.
Preventing weight gain and achieving healthy weight loss are central planks to the successful management of type 2 diabetes, which is commonly caused by obesity - a major health problem in the UAE, where more than 50 percent of males and females are classed as overweight or obese, according to World Health Organisation data from 2000.
Delegates attending the congress heard that the oral drug Galvus (vildagliptin), produced by NovartisNovartis and licensed for use in type 2 diabetes, has been shown not to affect patients' weight, unlike other type 2 diabetes medications where weight gain is a common side effect.
Speaking at a symposium on the first day of the congress, world renowned diabetes expert, Professor Ele Ferrannini, Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Pisa School of Medicine, Italy, said: "From a patient's point of view, suffering from extra weight gain when you are trying to lose weight to help control your diabetes is very demoralizing, especially when that weight gain is related to the drugs you are taking as part of your treatment regimen."
"In view of this, any diabetes drug that does not have associated weight gain clearly has an important role to play in the successful treatment of type 2 disease, particularly in this region where the rise in diabetes is inextricably linked to a rise in obesity," added Professor Ferrannini, who is the former president of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
Data showing that vildagliptin is not associated with weight gain comes from a trial of 2,400 patients with type 2 diabetes treated by primary care doctors called the GALIANT study, which looked at the effects of taking vildagliption in combination with metformin, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), and sulphonylureas, compared with taking TZDs alone.
The 12-week study found that patients on vildagliptin and metformin lost weight, whereas those on TZDs alone gained weight - which was hailed a key finding by the researchers as many type 2 diabetes patients struggle to keep their weight under control.
"The GALIANT study demonstrates that vildagliptin is an effective treatment option without the associated weight gain seen in commonly prescribed drugs for patients who are on metformin but are not reaching their recommended blood sugar levels," said Dr. Ahmed Amin, Medical Director, NovartisNovartis Middle East.
The 1st International Abu Dhabi Diabetes Congress, held between 12 and 14 March 2010 at the Emirates Palace International Conference Centre, is sponsored by Health Authority-Abu Dhabi and the EASD. Professor Ferrannini's presentation is taking place on 12 March at 3pm at a symposium run by NovartisNovartis, which is also sponsoring the event.
[1] Braceras R, et al. "Vildagliptin is as Effective as TZDs in Metformin Failures: Results of GALIANT - A Primary Care Diabetes Study." Presented at EASD, 6-11 September 2008, (Abstract P-914).
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About NovartisNovartis:
NovartisNovartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, NovartisNovartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools, and consumer health products. NovartisNovartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2007, the Group's continuing operations (excluding divestments in 2007) achieved net sales of USD 38.1 billion and net income of USD 6.5 billion. Approximately USD 6.4 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, NovartisNovartis Group companies employ approximately 98,000 full-time associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
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