Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen) today announced it has received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a complete response letter regarding its New Drug Application (NDA) for a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of canagliflozin and immediate-release metformin to treat adults with type 2 diabetes.
The complete response letter related to the NDA requested additional information to support the comparability of the twice-daily dosing regimen of canagliflozin -- as part of the canagliflozin and metformin FDC -- and the once-daily dosing of canagliflozin as a single agent. Janssen believes it can supply this information based on available clinical data from the comprehensive Phase 3 clinical development program for canagliflozin.
"We continue to have productive discussions with the FDA and will work closely with the agency to advance this application," said Norman Rosenthal, MD, FACE, FACP, canagliflozin compound development team leader, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "We look forward to addressing questions from the FDA as soon as possible and remain committed to providing therapeutic options that meet the needs of the type 2 diabetes community."
Canagliflozin is an oral medication that selectively inhibits sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2), a carrier responsible for the reabsorption of glucose by the kidney, thereby promoting the loss of glucose in the urine and lowering blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Metformin is a first-line oral medication that can be used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes. Metformin lowers blood glucose levels by decreasing the amount of glucose made by the liver.
If approved, the canagliflozin and metformin fixed-dose combination could provide convenience for patients who may benefit from the two diabetes medications in one tablet. Janssen announced the submission of the canagliflozin/metformin fixed-dose combination therapy NDA on December 12, 2012.
In March of this year, the FDA approved canagliflozin (INVOKANA®) as a single agent as an adjunct to diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. INVOKANA® has since been widely adopted and today it is the number one branded therapy prescribed by U.S. endocrinologists when adding or switching non-insulin type 2 diabetes medications.
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