Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and AstraZeneca PLC Announce New Data Show Investigational Compound Dapagliflozin Demonstrated Significant Reductions in Blood Sugar Levels When Added to Sitagliptin

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and AstraZeneca PLC announced results from a Phase 3 clinical study that showed the investigational compound dapagliflozin 10 mg demonstrated significant reductions in blood sugar levels (glycosylated hemoglobin levels, or HbA1c) compared with placebo at 24 weeks when either agent was added to existing sitagliptin therapy (with or without metformin) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. The results were maintained over a 24-week extension and similar results were observed when the data were stratified by background therapy. The study also demonstrated significant reductions in total body weight and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in patients taking dapagliflozin added to sitagliptin (with or without metformin), with results maintained throughout the duration of the study extension. Patients were actively questioned at each study visit for signs, symptoms or events suggestive of genital infections and urinary tract infections. These events were more frequent with the dapagliflozin treatment group compared to the placebo treatment group, and were generally mild to moderate in intensity, with most patients responding to standard treatment. Dapagliflozin, an investigational oral compound, is a selective and reversible inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), which works independently of insulin. Dapagliflozin is under joint development by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca.