Ian..
I think this news today from Merck and Novartis doesn't bode well for Exubera....shot, inhaler, pill! IMO patients will go for the pills, either MRKs or NVS'....I would give the tip of the hat to Novartis, since it is a stand-alone therapy.
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"Galvus is tipped by analysts to become a $1 billion-a-year plus seller, but it faces fierce competition from Merck & Co Inc.'s (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) rival new drug, Januvia.
Galvus and Januvia represent the first of a class of drugs called DPP-IV inhibitors, which work by enhancing the body's own ability to lower blood sugar levels. Analysts believe DPP-IV drugs could become a popular treatment in the oral anti-diabetes market, since they are not associated with weight gain.
Both drugs have already been filed for approval with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and, if given a green light, could be launched next year in a neck-and-neck race.
Galvus, along with Rasilez for high blood pressure, is one of two intended blockbusters that Swiss drugmaker Novartis hopes to bring to market in the near future.
Diabetes is a mounting health problem in both developed and developing countries. Type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, is by far the most common form and is closely linked with obesity. |
