Merck's once-weekly diabetes drug approved in Japan
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Merck & CO said its Type 2 diabetes drug had been approved in Japan, marking the first approval for the once-weekly drug.
The drug, omarigliptin, belongs to the same class of drugs as Merck's bestseller Januvia, which is to be taken once a day. Both drugs are aimed at lowering blood sugar levels.
Januvia had sales of about $4 billion in 2014.
Merck said this month it would submit an application for U.S. marketing approval for omarigliptin by the end of the year.
reuters.com
