Federal Approval For New Type 2 Diabetic Medication Janumet
April 1, 2007 by Kendra James, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Type 2 diabetics have something to celebrate. There is a 2 in 1 pill that was given federal approval this week. It is called Janumet. The medication is a combination of metformin and Januvia, 2 pills that are being taken separately by diabetics to help control their blood sugar.
Merck hopes the combination version will make it easier for those diabetics to control their blood sugar levels.
This comes only 5 months after the drug Januvia was approved by the federal drug administration. Januvia is the first of its type on the market.
JANUVIA is a once-daily pill that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. It’s a type of prescription diabetes medicine called a DPP-4 inhibitor (blocker). DPP-4 blockers enhance the body’s own ability to keep blood sugar levels balanced.
It is a no brainer for Merck and Co.. More than a third of all diabetic prescriptions are for metformin. Over 90% of patients with diabetes are type 2 diabetics. You do the math! And with each pill costing $3-$5, I venture to say Merck will make out just fine.
The medicine will help Merck compete for a bigger share of the $17 billion market for diabetes treatments, with Januvia and Janumet expected to have more than $2 billion in combined annual sales by 2010, analysts said
How will prescription plan providers cover the medication? Will Janumat become that “answer” for type 2 diabetics, or will it be just out of financial reach for most patients?
via Januvia
Unknown???? My name is Kendra James of Diabetes Notes. Haha.
I have been taking this medicine for 2 days and it made me sick the first day,now I have diarrhea,all day and all night,every thing I eat are drink,just comes back out.I can’t go any where this morning,I have to keep going to the toilet.I am just raw.
Lynette- So sorry to hear that. I hope all settles down and don’t be scared to tell the doctor if it isn’t for you. I wish you luck and keep in touch! Take care.
My doctor told me to take two a day. made me sick, waited 3 weeks and took 2 pill which made me sick.