Japan approval expands Actos combination uses in diabetes
This article was originally published in Scrip
Takeda's oral antidiabetic Actos (pioglitazone) has received formal final approval in Japan for use as a concomitant therapy with insulin. The thiazolidinedione insulin sensitiser is now indicated for use in type 2 diabetics whose disease is inadequately controlled by diet and exercise plus insulin.
The standard adult dose is 15mg once daily before or after breakfast in conjunction with this current therapy, rising to a maximum of 30mg per day.
The approval was supported by clinical data showing that the addition of Actos significantly decreased HbA1C levels (a measure of blood glucose) compared with diet, exercise and insulin alone.
Actos is already approved for use in Japan both as monotherapy and in combination with sulfonylurea, biguanide or alpha-glucosidase inhibiting drugs. It now has the widest range of approved combination uses among antidiabetics marketed in Japan, Takeda noted.