GSK starts phase 3 trial of new Type 2 diabetes drug Syncria

LONDON British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline has started a phase 3 trial of a new treatment for Type 2 diabetes, the company announced Tuesday.

GSK said the trial would judge the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Syncria (albiglutide), which belongs to the class known as glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists. The trial will include more than 4,000 patients. 

"Despite continued advances in diabetes treatment, this devastating disease continues to increase at an alarming pace worldwide," GSK SVP biopharm development Carlo Russo said in a statement. "Albiglutide is a novel biological currently being investigated to determine its potential to help people control their blood sugar, particularly when oral treatments alone may not provide an adequate response."