BMS/AstraZeneca's Onglyza launched in UK
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca's Onglyza (saxagliptin) is now available in the UK, marking the first EU launch of the drug. The dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor was approved by the European Commission earlier this month as an add-on therapy for patients with type II diabetes (scripnews.com, October 6th, 2009). A pack of 28, 5mg tablets will cost £31.60. The drug will be competing with other DPP-IV inhibitors that have already been approved in the EU, including Merck & Co's first-in-class Januvia (sitagliptin) and Novartis's Galvus (vildagliptin). Onglyza has already been approved and launched in the US.