Novo Nordisk, Sciele Pharma announce availability of PrandiMet tablets

PRINCETON, N.J. Novo Nordisk and Sciele Pharma last week announced the availability of PrandiMet (repaglinide and metformin HCl) tablets, the first and only fixed-dose combination of the short-acting secretagogue repaglinide (also known as Prandin) and insulin sensitizer metformin HCl for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the United States.

PrandiMet is a meglitinide and biguanide combination product indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are already treated with a meglitinide and metformin HCl or who have inadequate glycemic control on a meglitinide alone or metformin HCl alone.

PrandiMet targets three primary abnormalities of type 2 diabetes by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas, improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing gluconeogenesis. Insulin release is dependent on the presence of functioning beta cells in the pancreatic islets.

The combination of metformin and repaglinide has been shown to effectively reduce A1c levels. Although Prandin and metformin HCl have been used together for more than 10 years PrandiMet is the first treatment option which combines both into one pill.