Novartis' Type 2 diabetes treatment Galvus (vildagliptin) has demonstrated impressive efficacy, especially in patients with poor glycemic control, as well as weight loss benefits in obese patients.

The combination of Galvus, a member of the DPP-4 inhibitor class, and pioglitazone led to an overall 1.9 percent reduction in HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar control also known as A1c). Pioglitazone is an insulin sensitizer known as a thiazolidinedione, or TZD. Two-thirds of people on Galvus and pioglitazone achieved the ADA-defined A1c goal of less than or equal to 7 percent versus 42 percent of those who achieved this goal on monotherapy.