Lupin Limited, a pharmaceutical company in India, has recently received tentative approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a drug named Canagliflozin for managing type 2 diabetes.
These canagliflozin tablets are the generic equivalent of 100mg and 300 mg of Invokana tablets, which belong to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and these tablets are produced in the Pithampur branch of Lupin Pharmaceuticals.
These tablets have been widely sold in the United States, generating a revenue of 561 million USD.
Lupin Pharmaceuticals is a multinational company. In India, it has its headquarters in Mumbai. It is the third-largest pharmaceutical company in the US. This pharmaceutical company has 15 manufacturing sites and 7 research centers around the world. They have discovered drugs for cardiovascular problems, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal problems as well.
Canagliflozin is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor. Its role is to block SGLT-2, which is a protein that reabsorbs glucose in the kidneys. These canagliflozin tablets act by facilitating glucose excretion through urine, so there will be low blood sugar levels.
These tablets can also be used as an alternative to metformin. Diabetic patients who are intolerant to metformin can take canagliflozin because it is considered more effective than sulfonylureas. It is also cost-effective when compared to sulfonylureas and DDP-4 inhibitors.
Canagliflozin reduces blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes patients in the following ways:
It can be prescribed as an alternative to diet and exercise to reduce blood glucose levels.
It plays a major role in reducing cardiovascular risks in type 2 diabetes patients.
It greatly reduces the risk of end-stage kidney disease by increasing serum creatinine levels, thereby helping to manage diabetic nephropathy.
According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is prevalent among type 2 diabetes patients, which is the major cause of cardiac disease, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage liver disease. Canagliflozin, as an SGLT-2 inhibitor, has shown a positive outcome in managing this systemic condition due to MAFLD in patients with type 2 diabetes.
References:
1) https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613033.html
2) https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/108/11/2940/7156575
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Rohini Devi)
