Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company today announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for regulatory approval of exenatide.
Exenatide is the first in a new class of medicines known as incretin mimetics under investigation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In clinical trials, exenatide has demonstrated reductions in blood sugar and improvements in markers of beta cell function. Patients in exenatide studies also lost weight.
"The submission of the exenatide NDA is a significant milestone both for Amylin Pharmaceuticals and for our collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company," said Ginger Graham, president and CEO, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. "This NDA includes data on more than 1,800 subjects treated with exenatide. We believe the application provides the FDA with the necessary information to evaluate exenatide for use as a new therapeutic option for people living with type 2 diabetes."
"The rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes and the need for innovative new treatments has never been more critical than it is today," said John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., executive vice president of pharmaceutical operations, Eli Lilly and Company. "Many patients with type 2 diabetes are struggling to control their blood sugar and, even with current oral therapies, find that they cannot reach their treatment goals. If approved, we believe exenatide could offer an important and novel treatment option for people with type 2 diabetes."