AstraZeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN) revealed on Monday two new randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3b outcome trials for its sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor indicated for type-2 diabetes treatment. The drugs are branded Farxiga (dapagliflozin) in the US and Forxiga outside the US.
The company has also revealed the commencement of new mechanistic trials, which aim to further understand the potential cardiovascular (CV) and renal protective signals in an SGLT2 inhibitor. SGLT2 inhibitors prevent the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, thus enabling its excretion in urine.
The outcome trials are crucial in determining the role of Forziga in the management of chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease among patients with and without type-2 diabetes. This is the first outcome trial that aims to assess the effect of an SGLT2 inhibitor in the management of chronic kidney disease.
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These new efforts reiterate the pharmaceutical giant’s heightened focus on treatments for CV and metabolic diseases (CVMD). Moreover, they reinforce the company’s commitment to Forxiga, which has already treated over a million patients so far.
Elisabeth Björk, AstraZeneca Vice President (VP) of Late Clinical Development, has boasted that these initiatives further aim to understand and unveil the risk factors associated with CV morbidity and mortality. As a result, AstraZeneca can deliver enhanced outcomes for CVMD patients around the world.
Presently, about 38 million people are suffering from chronic heart failure while 200 million people are suffering from chronic kidney disease globally.
In realted news, last week, AstraZeneca has also announced its five year public-private partnership (PPP) with the US PEPFAR that seeks to provide an extended and enhanced access to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS and hypertension services through existing locations in Kenya. The $10-million deal is in line with the Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development.
More specifically, the agreement between the two entities aims to deliver optimized HIV/AIDS and hypertension healthcare services to men aged between 25 years old and 50 years old.
AstraZeneca hopes to take advantage of the US PEPFAR’s extensive patient reach, bringing improved hypertension care. Meanwhile, the latter hopes to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the former to make hypertension services available alongside its HIV/AIDS services.
