TAKEDA'S DIABETES DRUG WINS FDA APPROVAL

Takeda Pharmaceuticals announced the FDA has approved its new drug application for duetact (pioglitazone HCl and glimepiride) for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Duetact combines Actos (pioglitazone HCl) and glimepiride, two widely used diabetes medications with complementary actions, in a single tablet.

Actos directly targets insulin resistance, a condition where the body does not efficiently use the insulin it produces; and glimepiride, a sulfonylurea, acts primarily by increasing the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas. Combining these medications may provide patients with an easier way to take the two drugs, as diabetic patients are often prescribed multiple medications to manage the disease.