Eli Lilly Canada Inc. is pleased to announce the Health Canada approval of BYETTATM (exenatide injection) for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. BYETTA is indicated for use as a combination therapy with metformin and / or a sulfonylurea to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes who have not achieved adequate glycemic control on maximally tolerated doses of these oral therapies in addition to diet and exercise. Management of type 2 diabetes should also include nutritional counselling, weight reduction as needed, and exercise.
BYETTA is part of a new class of diabetes medications called incretin mimetics. Incretin mimetics work to help regulate blood sugar by mimicking naturally occurring hormones in the body called incretins. BYETTA works by imitating the effects of an incretin hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 or GLP-1.
"Despite our best efforts with lifestyle changes and medications, many Canadians with diabetes are not achieving the recommend glucose control targets," says Dr. Bernard Zinman, Director, Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto and Mount Sinai Hospital. "Exenatide is a member of a new class of medications, the GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is effective in lowering blood sugar levels with minimal risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) with the added benefit of weight reduction - an important consideration for people living with type 2 diabetes who are frequently overweight."
In clinical trials BYETTA was shown to help patients improve blood sugar control through the immediate and long-term effects of lowering both their fasting and postprandial sugar levels (peak levels after meals).
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