Takeda Diabetes Drug Bests Glaxo's in Lipid Study
November 10, 2004
By Bill Berkrot
A Takeda Pharmaceuticals diabetes drug was more effective in dealing with patients' cholesterol problems than one made by GlaxoSmithKline in a head-to-head study presented on Wednesday.
The 735-person, 24-week study presented at the American Heart Association meeting, tested Takeda's Actos against Glaxo's Avandia in diabetics in whom high levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDLs, or so-called good cholesterol, are common problems.
Researchers said the condition, known as dyslipidemia, is an important risk factor for heart disease, which is the major cause of death in Type 2 diabetics.
While both drugs were equally effective in their primary job of improving blood sugar levels, researchers found that Actos was significantly better at lowering triglycerides and raising HDL levels than Avandia.
"The difference between the two agents amounts to an improvement by Actos over Avandia on the overall lipid profile, and these differences could be important for the risk of cardiovascular disease down the road," Dr. Ronald Goldberg of the University of Miami School of Medicine and the trial's lead investigator told reporters.
Triglycerides is a measure of fat in the blood considered to be a risk factor for heart disease, while a body of evidence is building that higher HDL levels may help reduce heart risk.
Takeda has been selling Actos, or pioglitazone, in the United States since 1999 in partnership with Eli Lilly and Co. . It had global sales of $1.68 billion in its last full fiscal year.
Glaxo reported combined 2003 sales of $1.66 billion for Avandia, also known as rosiglitazone, and Avandamet, which combines Avandia with another diabetes drug metformin.
Actos lowered triglycerides by 12 percent, while Avandia initially raised triglycerides but had no significant change over 24 weeks, Goldberg said.
Actos was also substantially better with a 15 percent rise in HDL levels, compared to an 8 percent benefit for Avandia patients.
Both drugs also caused a boost in levels of LDLs, or bad cholesterol, but Actos again came out on top with a less pronounced rise, researchers said.
While Actos appeared to be clearly better as defined by the goals of the trial, researchers cautioned that the differences as they relate to the future risk of heart disease still need to be determined.
Source:www.reuters.com
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