Suglat Tablets are discovered through a research collaboration and is being jointly developed by Astellas and Kotobuki Pharmaceutical (Kotobuki).
The company said that SGLTs are membrane proteins that exist on the cell surface and transfer glucose into cells.
SGLT2 is one subtype of SGLTs and plays a major role in the reuptake of glucose in the proximal tubule of the kidneys.
Suglat tablets, which is the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in Japan, reduces blood glucose levels by inhibiting the reuptake of glucose by selectively inhibiting SGLT2.
The Japanese firm will manufacture and sell Suglat tablets and co-promote it with Kotobuki and MSD.