Forxiga is indicated to be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise in combination with other glucose-lowering medicinal products, including insulin, or as a monotherapy in metformin-intolerant patients
Forxiga belongs to a new class of Type 2 diabetes mellitus medication-a highly selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2). It has an unique insulin independent mode of action that helps remove excess glucose from the body via urine which is associated with reductions in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), weight and systolic blood pressure. Globally, Forxiga is the first medicine in the new SGLT2 inhibitor class to gain regulatory approval for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Forxiga tablets are indicated as a once-daily oral medication to improve glycaemic control in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Forxiga is indicated to be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise in combination with other glucose-lowering medicinal products, including insulin, or as a monotherapy in metformin-intolerant patients.
Diabetes mellitus is a disease of epidemic scale in India, with more than 63 million affected people. With many diabetic patients remaining uncontrolled in their glucose lowering regimen, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus being increasingly associated with overweight/ obesity, a term coined as ‘Diabesity’ by researchers, Forxiga offers a new treatment approach for patients and physicians that helps in improving glycaemic control with added benefits of weight loss and blood pressure reduction.
Forxiga is currently approved in more than 40 countries. In India, it has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India on 25th February, 2015 supported by a broad clinical development programme comprising 11,801 patients in various clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of Forxiga.
AstraZeneca India has an innovative non – insulin anti-diabetic product portfolio offering physicians treatment options across the spectrum that meets the individual needs of diabetic patients. AstraZeneca is the first to offer products in three novel and fast growing classes of diabetes treatments: Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitor and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists. AstraZeneca India markets two patented molecules under the brands- Onglyza (Saxagliptin) and Kombiglyze in the DPP4i segment, Byetta in the GLP1 analogues treatment segment and now Forxiga in the SGLT2i segment.
Sanjay Murdeshwar, Managing Director, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd said, “Forxiga represents a significant advancement in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus with global safety and efficacy data of four years. It is an important addition to our innovative anti-diabetic portfolio; strengthening our commitment to transform patient care in diabetes by offering an additional treatment option for over 63 million diabetic patients in India.”
Dr Bhavesh Kotak, Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd explained, “Reaching treatment goals of diabetic patients continues to be a challenge in spite of multiple therapeutic options of oral and injectable anti diabetic agents. Forxiga works by blocking reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys. Excess glucose gets excreted via urine helping patients achieve glycaemic control, a major treatment goal”
Forxiga is available in the markets from May 2015.