Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a New Drug Application (NDA) for dapagliflozin, an investigational compound for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for dapagliflozin has also been validated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The NDA and MAA submissions for dapagliflozin were filed in December 2010. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for the FDA is October 28, 2011.

The US and European submissions included data of up to two years in duration from a global development programme involving approximately 6,000 individuals in 40 clinical studies. In accordance with FDA guidelines, the US application also includes data assessing the cardiovascular safety of dapagliflozin in adults with type 2 diabetes.

If approved, dapagliflozin would potentially be the first in a class of novel agents for diabetes that inhibit Sodium-Glucose co-Transporter-2 (SGLT2), a specific target located in the kidney. Through this mechanism, dapagliflozin is designed to help control glycaemia independently of insulin pathways, leading to the excretion of excess glucose and associated calories in the urine.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 285 million people have diabetes globally, and this number is projected to increase to 438 million by 2030. Additionally, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that approximately one in every 11 adults in the US has diagnosed diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90 to 95% of all cases of diagnosed diabetes in adults. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by insulin resistance and/or dysfunction of beta cells in the pancreas, which decreases insulin sensitivity and secretion, leading to elevated glucose levels. Over time, this sustained hyperglycaemia contributes to worsening insulin resistance and further beta cell dysfunction.

Significant unmet needs exist as nearly half of treated patients remain uncontrolled on their current glucose-lowering regimen. Many patients with type 2 diabetes have additional co-morbidities, such as obesity, some of which may complicate glycemic control. To date, treatments for type 2 diabetes have focused primarily on insulin-dependent mechanisms. An approach that acts independently of insulin may provide a novel option for adults with type 2 diabetes in helping manage their glucose levels.

The renal SGLT system plays a major role in overall glucose balance in the body. Normally, the kidney filters ~180g of glucose each day, and virtually all is reabsorbed back into circulation. Glucose re-absorption occurs in the proximal tubule of the kidney via the SGLT system. Selective inhibition of SGLT2 by an insulin independent mechanism of action is designed to lead to the excretion of excess glucose and associated calories in the urine, thereby lowering blood glucose levels.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca entered into a collaboration in January 2007 to enable the companies to research, develop and commercialize select investigational drugs for type 2 diabetes. The Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca Diabetes collaboration is dedicated to global patient care, improving patient outcomes and creating a new vision for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease.