INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

SAN DIEGO — A cobranded Type 2 diabetes treatment may help reduce blood-sugar levels among patients when combined with insulin (with or without metformin), according to a late-stage clinical trial.

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb said that when Onglyza (saxagliptin) in the 5-mg strength was combined with insulin (with or without metformin), patients saw significantly lower HbA1C levels by an average of about 0.73% by the end of the phase-3 trial, compared with a placebo-insulin (with or without metformin) combination.

SAN DIEGO — New data from a late-stage clinical trial of a recently approved drug for Type 2 diabetes show improved blood-sugar control in adults who take it with metformin or alone.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly presented data from the study of Tradjenta (linagliptin) at the American Diabetes Association’s 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego last weekend. The study showed reductions in blood sugar and weight, and a low incidence of abnormally low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia.

The FDA approved Tradjenta as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes in May.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — In June 1997, the cover of Wired magazine showed Apple’s logo with a crown of thorns and the foreboding word “Pray.” Amid the nascent tech boom, the company’s stock hit a low of about $12 per share that summer. The future, it seemed, was IBM-compatible.

(THE NEWS: Rite Aid shows off innovation with Wellness store. For the full story, click here.)

SAN DIEGO — Use of a drug for Type 2 diabetes made by Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals may lower patients’ risk of heart failure, according to a new study.

The study of more than 778,000 patients taking the injected drug Byetta (exenatide) found that adding the drug to a pre-existing diabetes regimen, especially if that regimen included insulin, was associated with reduced likelihood of heart failure. Results were presented Saturday at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego.

NEW YORK — Prices for the top 10 most prescribed branded diabetes drugs have risen faster at Walmart and Kmart than at other retailers, according to a published report.

Citing a recent study by researchers at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, Reuters reported that Walmart raised prices for branded diabetes drugs by 32% between 2008 and 2010, compared with 21% for the industry as a whole — including independent and chain retail pharmacies and mail-order companies. Kmart raised prices by 35%.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Walgreens certainly has the clout to pull off a Mexican standoff with Express Scripts. Some might think all of the tough talk last week is just the kind of posturing one puts on for negotiations and that this will all blow over, similar to last year's standoff between Walgreens and CVS Caremark. So why is it different this time?

(THE NEWS: Walgreens to walk away from Express Scripts in 2012. For the full story, click here.)

SAN DIEGO — Novo Nordisk unveiled data from two extension studies at the 71st annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego that show its diabetes drug, when combined with other medications, may help patients achieve blood-sugar control.

The drug maker found that combining Victoza (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection) with metformin and/or sulfonylurea helped patients achieve blood-sugar control.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The law targeting data mining in Vermont, along with laws in New Hampshire and Maine, would have forced drug companies to significantly change the way they market drugs to physicians had the Supreme Court allowed them to stand in the case of Sorrell, Attorney General of Vermont, et al. vs. IMS Health Inc., et al.

(THE NEWS: Supreme Court strikes down Rx data mining law. For the full story, click here.)