Panel rejects AstraZeneca, Bristol diabetes pill

SILVER SPRING, Maryland (Reuters) - U.S. advisers rejected a new type of diabetes pill from AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb over concerns about liver and cancer risks.

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted 9-6 on Tuesday against recommending approval of the drug, called dapagliflozin, for adults with Type 2 diabetes.

Panel members said the clinical data did not provide enough certainty about the drug's cancer, liver and kidney risks, as well as its efficacy -- especially for the elderly.

The FDA usually follows the recommendations of its advisory panels and is due to make a final decision on the drug by October 28.

An estimated 200 million people across the world, and close to 26 million in the United States, have diabetes. Most have Type 2 diabetes, the kind linked to poor diet and lack of exercise.

(Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Gary Hill)