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news.Novartis has said that phase III studies of Galvus suggest the drug significantly helps people age 65 and older who have type 2 diabetes.
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Pooled analyses from a number of phase III studies showed significant improvements in blood sugar control among patients in this age group when treated with Galvus without the increased risk of side effects that often limits more aggressive treatment in these patients.
The efficacy of once-daily dosing for Galvus monotherapy was also highlighted. Data from a number of phase III monotherapy trials in patients taking Galvus daily showed overall blood sugar reductions of 1% in A1C (an average blood sugar measure over two to three months) and up to 1.8% in those with the highest baseline blood sugar levels.
“These data confirm Galvus effectively reduces blood sugar levels and has a positive effect on pancreatic islet cell function,” said Vivian Fonseca, chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in Louisiana.
A separate analysis of 2,000 patients of all ages with type 2 diabetes indicated that Galvus is extremely well tolerated in patients aged 65 and above, with a very low incidence of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, a particular concern in older patients with type 2 diabetes.