GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has received the positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommending marketing authorisation for its albiglutide, under the brand name Eperzan.

The CHMP opinion concerns albiglutide proposed as a once-weekly treatment to improve glycaemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

As monotherapy, when diet and exercise alone do not provide adequate glycaemic control in patients for whom the use of metformin is considered inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance.

As add-on combination therapy, in combination with other glucose-lowering medicinal products including basal insulin, when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycaemic control.

Albiglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is an investigational once-weekly type 2 diabetes treatment. GLP-1 is an important incretin hormone that helps normalise blood sugar levels.

“Today’s positive opinion is a major milestone towards offering people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes a new option to help manage their condition and we look forward to the final decision of the European Commission in the coming months,” said Dr Carlo Russo, senior vice president, Research and Development at GSK. “Diabetes is a global health problem, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Albiglutide has the potential to help many patients with type 2 diabetes who struggle to control their blood glucose levels.”

A CHMP positive opinion is one of the last steps before marketing authorisation is granted by the European Commission. A final decision on marketing authorisation is anticipated during the first quarter of 2014.

Albiglutide is currently undergoing review by other authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target date is April 15, 2014. Albiglutide is not approved for use anywhere in the world.

The CHMP positive opinion is based on an evaluation of a comprehensive global programme of studies involving over 5,000 patients. The programme included eight phase III trials evaluating albiglutide against commonly-used classes of type 2 diabetes treatment and involved patients at different stages of the disease, as well as those with renal impairment, for up to three years.

In clinical trials, acute pancreatitis has been reported in association with albiglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists. The most frequent adverse reactions during clinical trials, which occurred in =5% of patients receiving albiglutide, were diarrhoea, nausea, and injection site reactions. If approved, albiglutide will not be appropriate for use in patients with a history of serious hypersensitivity to albiglutide or any of its excipients.

Albiglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is an investigational biological product for the treatment of type 2 diabetes designed for once-weekly subcutaneous dosing.  GLP-1 is a peptide that is normally secreted from the gastrointestinal tract during a meal which, in turn, helps release insulin to control blood sugar elevations after eating. In people with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 secretion in response to a meal is reduced or absent.

Eperzan is a trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

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