BMS, AstraZeneca drug added to insulin reduces blood sugar more than placebo

PRINCETON, N.J. — A diabetes drug made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca significantly reduced Type 2 diabetes patients' blood-sugar levels, compared with placebo, when added to insulin, according to results of a new study.



The two companies presented results of a 24-week extension to a 52-week study of Onglyza (saxagliptin) at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes' 47th annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal; they had presented results from the original study at the American Diabetes Association's scientific sessions in San Diego in June.



The phase-3b study found that patients taking 5 mg of Onglyza with insulin had a 0.75% reduction in HbA1C, compared with 0.38% of those taking insulin and placebo.