FDA approves Bristol-Myers Squibb's, AstraZeneca's Farxiga

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca for treating Type 2 diabetes, the agency said Wednesday.

The FDA announced the approval of Farxiga (dapagliflozin) tablets, designed for use with exercise and dietary adjustments to control blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes affects about 24 million people in the United States, accounting for more than 90% of diabetes cases.

"Controlling blood sugar levels is very important in the overall treatment and care of diabetes, and Farxiga provides an additional treatment option for millions of Americans with Type 2 diabetes," FDA Office of Drug Evaluation II director Curtis Rosebraugh said.

The drug belongs to a class known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, or SGLT2, inhibitor. The drug works by blocking the reabsorption of glucose by the kidney, increasing glucose excretion and thereby lowering blood glucose levels.