Product News and Recalls

New Implantable Diabetes Pump Outperforms Januvia

implantable diabetes pump may outperform januviaIntarcia Therapeutics Inc. has released clinical research that, according to the company’s CEO, shows that their new diabetes pump will have “broad appeal in the market.” Intarcia, a private biotech firm from Boston, reported that their new implantable pump, called ITCA 650, performed better in glucose reduction and weight loss when compared to diabetes drugs currently on the market, including Merck’s Januvia.

According to an article in Bloomberg Business, the company picked Januvia to run against in a head-to-head trial.  Intarcia reported that their new diabetes pump was found to reduce glucose levels twice as effectively as the commonly prescribed diabetes drug.

Intarcia’s pump is implanted under the skin for up to a year and continuously delivers a diabetes drug known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist.  The company reportedly conducted a yearlong study of 535 patients and found that the pump reduced blood glucose levels by 1.5 percentage points and led to an average weight loss of 9 pounds, compared to 0.8 percentage points and 2.9 pounds respectively for Januvia.

The article said that GLP-1 receptor agonists are “typically third or fourth options for patients” and they “wanted to show that [the] company’s device could be used sooner.” It should be noted that Januvia is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Intarcia will apply for U.S. regulatory approval in 2016 after one more trial is completed related to the pump’s effect on heart health.

Other drugs prescribed to control high blood glucose levels in diabetic patients have been linked to serious and sometimes life-threatening adverse effects, including pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

If you have suffered injury from using a prescription diabetes medication like Invokana or Januvia, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer for your injuries. The product liability attorneys at Lopez McHugh, LLP are dedicated to helping victims. Contact our office today to schedule a free case evaluation with a diabetes drug lawyer.