Diabetes-cholesterol combo pill approved by FDA
The FDA has approved a new combination drug, the first of its kind, designed to treat both Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. The drug will offer a convenience and savings to those who have to take multiple sets of pills.
Juvisync, made by Merck & Co. Inc., is expected to be made available within the next few weeks. The pill combines Januvia, Merck’s Type 2 diabetes drug, with Zocor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, also known as simvastatin.
“This is the first product to combine a type 2 diabetes drug with a cholesterol lowering drug in one tablet,” said Dr. Mary H. Parks, director of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
“However, to ensure safe and effective use of this product, tablets containing different doses of sitagliptin and simvastatin in fixed-dose combination have been developed to meet the different needs of individual patients. Dose selection should factor in what other drugs the patient is taking.”
Three dosage strengths will be made available for sitagliptin/simvastatin (100 mg/10 mg, 100 mg/20 mg and 100 mg/40 mg) when Juvisync is made available in the coming weeks, Merck said. Merck will also be offering fixed-dose pill with 50 mg dose of sitagliptin.
Credit: CNN
