Better Health, Brighter Future
OAKVILLE, Ontario – April 15, 2015 – Takeda Canada Inc. announced today that NESINA® (alogliptin) and KAZANO™ (alogliptin and metformin hydrochloride), two new treatments for type 2 diabetes, are now available for Quebec patients.
The availability of these new treatments in Quebec is the result of a decision by the Quebec government to reimburse them following Health Canada approval of the treatments. NESINA and KAZANO are included on the province’s public drug plan with codes to provide facilitated access to the product under the medicament d’exception program.
Alogliptin is in the class of treatments known as DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) inhibitors. Across a number of trials and patient populations, alogliptin 25 mg tablets taken once daily demonstrated clinically and statistically significant reductions in HbA1c (blood glucose levels), with low incidence of hypoglycemia.
"As treating physicians, an important objective in the management of type 2 diabetes is to help patients reach their target HbA1c levels,” said Dr. Jean-Marie Ekoé, M.D., an endocrinologist at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) and professor at the Université de Montréal. "We start with the obvious which is diet and exercise and move onto medications, starting with metformin. It is essential for us to have multiple proven treatments available for patients who need to move on from metformin. NESINA and KAZANO are two new welcome additions.”
There are more than 830 000 Quebecers who live with diabetes, which represents more than 10 per cent of the provinces population. “With more treatment options, more Quebecers with diabetes will be able to control their disease and this will help lessen the personal and economic toll diabetes complications cause,” said Serge Langlois, President and Executive Director of Diabète Québec.
Diabetes has an economic burden (direct and indirect costs) in Quebec of about $3 billion per year. It is the leading cause of blindness in people under 65 years of age and is responsible for 40 per cent of kidney failures and half of non-traumatic limb amputations. Complications account for over 80 per cent of diabetes costs, but intensive and varied interventions can reduce diabetes-related complications and mortality by nearly 60 per cent, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association and Diabète Québec.
In addition to diet and exercise, both NESINA and KAZANO are indicated to improve glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, either on their own or in combination with various other diabetes treatments, including insulin, as appropriate. NESINA (alogliptin) is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) that is designed to slow the inactivation of incretin hormones such as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide). It is available in doses of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg tablets and is taken once daily, with or without food. KAZANO combines alogliptin with metformin HCl, a widely used anti-diabetes medication, in a single tablet. It is available in doses of 12.5 mg/500 mg, 12.5 mg/850 mg, and 12.5mg/1000 mg of alogliptin and metformin hydrochloride respectively. Because of the undesirable gastrointestinal effects associated with metformin and the pharmacokinetics of metformin KAZANO is taken twice daily with food.
Alogliptin is approved in many countries around the world, including Australia, China, Europe, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the United States, under varying brand names.
About Takeda’s diabetes business
Takeda’s heritage in diabetes globally includes significant contributions towards scientific discovery and exchange, starting with the discovery of the TZD pioglitazone, the more recent developments of alogliptin and FDCS alogliptin and pioglitazone, and alogliptin and metformin HCl. The company’s strong, diverse diabetes portfolio and available medications mark important milestones in Takeda’s ongoing commitment to advancing patient care and helping to meet the individual needs of this growing patient population. Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate website, www.takeda.com.
About Takeda Canada
Takeda Canada, located in Oakville, Ontario, is the Canadian sales and marketing organization of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Osaka, Japan. The company has a commercial presence covering more than 70 countries, with particular strength in Asia, North America, Europe and fast-growing emerging markets including Latin America, Russia-CIS and China. Areas of focus include cardiovascular and metabolic, oncology, respiratory and immunology, central nervous system, general medicine, and vaccines.Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to strive towards better health for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. Through strategic acquisitions, Takeda has been transforming itself, broadening its therapeutic expertise and geographic outreach. www.takedacanada.com.
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