With diabetes on the rise all over the world, especially in developing countries like India, the pharmaceutical industry is shifting its focus to developing drugs that help ease the lifestyles of sufferers of the disease. The number of medicines under development for diabetes by member companies of PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a consortium of all major research based pharmaceutical companies in the world) has increased from 95 in 2008 to over 230 in 2010.

These medicines are in different stages of FDA approval and for treatment of the different types of diabetes. More than half of the drugs under development are for type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes in India. These developments would therefore, help contribute to a decrease in the overall burden of diabetes in India, according to a spokesman for the PhRMA.

“The medicines currently available although effective, have significant room for improvement. For example most insulin dependent diabetes patients have to take daily injections of insulin. Currently there are medicines under development which have the potential to reduce the frequency of injections to once every week. These medications are primarily for patients of type 2 diabetes and stimulate the hormone – GLP - I to produce insulin, thereby helping eliminate the imbalance between insulin and Glucose in the body. Other medicines under development include molecules which aim at lowering cardiovascular risk, while maintaining the insulin balance in the body, these medicines are also most helpful for patients of type 2 diabetes. The medicines under development also help making diabetes patients more comfortable by reducing the risk of painful nerve damage by inhibiting the enzyme that causes diabetic neuropathy,” a statement said.

The number of diabetes patients has almost doubled in India in the last 10 years and is estimated to increase to 66.9 million by 2025, according to a study published in the International Journal for Diabetes. Globally, diabetes affects 246 million people, which is about 6 per cent of the total adult population. It is the fourth leading cause of death by disease and every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes in the world. Each year, over three million deaths worldwide are tied directly to diabetes and even greater number die from cardiovascular disease.

According to a recent study by WHO, more than 11 per cent of urban and more than 3 per cent of rural Indians suffer from diabetes. Diabetes affects all sects of society, not just those who live with it. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, mortality from diabetes and heart disease cost India about $210 billion every year and is expected to increase to $335 billion in the next ten years. These estimates are based on lost productivity, resulting primarily from premature death. The medicines under development will help control and to some extent reverse this trend.

Various studies have suggested that rising incidence of diabetes is due to the sedentary lifestyles led by an increasing number of urban Indians. An increasing number of Indians lead sedentary lifestyles. These lifestyles include fast food, carbonated beverages and the use of tobacco products. These practices have been shown to be responsible for the onset of diabetes.

Explains Dr Ashok Jhingan, chairman, Diabetes Research Centre, “There is a big stigma attached to type 1 diabetes as a lot of these patients are discriminated against while looking for a life partner. These problems are due to lack of awareness and can be overcome with the help of awareness programs organized by government and non government entities.”