KOMBOGLYZE™ (saxagliptin and metformin HCl Immediate-Release) Receives Positive CHMP Opinion in the European Union for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
PARIS and LONDON, September 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today announced that the Marketing Authorisation Application for KOMBOGLYZE™ (saxagliptin and metformin HCl immediate-release fixed dose combination) received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), as an adjunct to diet and exercise, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults who are not adequately controlled on metformin or those already being treated with the combination of saxagliptin and metformin as separate tablets.
The positive opinion was reached after the CHMP reviewed data from a Phase 3 clinical program that involved 4,326 patients with type 2 diabetes, including 2,158 individuals receiving saxagliptin plus metformin.
KOMBOGLYZE combines saxagliptin (also known as ONGLYZA™), a DPP-4 inhibitor, and metformin immediate-release (metformin IR), a biguanide, in one tablet for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
The CHMP's positive opinion on KOMBOGLYZE will now be reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union.
About Type 2 Diabetes
In 2010, diabetes was estimated to affect nearly 56 million people aged 20-79 in Europe, and the prevalence of diabetes in Europe is projected to reach nearly 67 million by 2030. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90 to 95% of all cases of diagnosed diabetes in adults. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by insulin resistance and/or dysfunction of beta cells in the pancreas, which decreases insulin sensitivity and secretion, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Over time, this sustained hyperglycaemia contributes to worsening insulin resistance and further beta cell dysfunction. Significant unmet needs exist as nearly half of treated patients remain uncontrolled on their current glucose-lowering regimen.
Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Collaboration
Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca entered into a collaboration in January 2007 to enable the companies to research, develop and commercialise select investigational drugs for type 2 diabetes. The Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca Diabetes collaboration is dedicated to global patient care, improving patient outcomes and creating a new vision for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that Komboglyze will receive regulatory approval or, if approved, that it will become a commercially successful product. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
AstraZeneca Forward-Looking Statement
The statements contained herein include forward-looking statements. Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any forward-looking statements, by their very nature, involve risks and uncertainties and may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those predicted. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of the preparation of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, certain of which are beyond our control, include, among other things, those risk factors identified in the Company's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2010. Nothing contained herein should be construed as a profit forecast.
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