Diabetes

NEW YORK — It seems that intensive-dose statin therapy is linked with a higher risk of onset diabetes, compared with moderate-dose therapy, according to an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The analysis, which pooled data from previously published clinical trials, found that among 32,752 nondiabetic participants:

• 2,749 participants (8.4%) developed diabetes. Among them, 1,449 were assigned intensive-dose therapy, while 1,300 assigned moderate-dose therapy;

PRINCETON, N.J. — Novo Nordisk has teamed up with actor Chris Noth to underscore the importance of early diabetes screening and detection.

Noth will serve as an ambassador for the national education program Ask.Screen.Know., Novo Nordisk said. As an ambassador, Noth will encourage Americans ages 45 years or older to get tested for diabetes and talk to a healthcare professional about the risk factors through a public service announcement and online at AskScreenKnow.com.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Diabetica Research Solutions has expanded distribution of its DRSI ReStore! Energy product to Publix stores that operate in-store pharmacies.

DRSI said its diabetes energy formula will be found in the diabetes care section of Publix.

DRSI ReStore! Energy currently is available at Duane Reade, Navarro Discount Pharmacy and CVS.com.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program has unveiled a series of videos designed to help people make lifestyle changes and cope with the demands of diabetes.

CVS/pharmacy spent the last couple of months sponsoring nearly 300 free screening and consultation events in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia targeting African-American communities. 


Part of the chain’s To Your Health program, the events were an extension of the A Su Salud events targeting Hispanic customers in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and Miami. To Your Health started in Atlanta on April 17, moving on to Washington, D.C., on June 12 and Philadelphia on June 19.


RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Just after the approval of their new treatment for Type 2 diabetes, Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim plan to present data in more than two dozen presentations at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions starting this week.

Lilly and BI, which recently launched the oral diabetes drug Tradjenta (linagliptin) will present data from studies of the drug, as well as studies on BI-10773, an investigational diabetes drug made by BI.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has introduced its latest initiative, designed to underscore the role pharmacists play in managing ongoing medications for chronic illnesses, particularly when a patient starts a new medication.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration approved Tradjenta (linagliptin), an oral Type 2 diabetes drug made by German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim and Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly. The drug belongs to the class known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, which also includes Merck’s Januvia (sitagliptin). With diabetes affecting some 26 million Americans and growing rapidly, Drug Store News spoke with Wa’el Hashad, BI’s VP cardiovascular and metabolic disorders marketing, about what the approval of Tradjenta means for the diabetes market.