Invokana Drug May be Game Changer for Type 2 Diabetes Patients

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first of a new class of drugs to treat Type 2 Diabetes called Invokana.
  • Invokana filters sugar into the kidney as opposed to previous medications which manipulated insulin levels to control blood sugar.
  • Our resident pharmacist Dr. Sarah Kahn says there are some concerns regarding how Invokana will affect the heart. According to Kahn, the current data is inconclusive, so they are conducting a trial called the CANVAS study (Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study). Those results won’t be available until 2024. In addition, the FDA is requiring Janssen Pharmaceuticals – Invokana’s manufacturer – to conduct five studies once the drug hits the market.
  • As for whether or not it’s a game changer, Kahn says possibly yes. “It has the potential for patients to lose weight and not cause low blood sugar. It’s the first of its kind although there are at least two other drugs currently in development,” she said. “What I’ve found is the first drug gets a lot of buzz but falls out of favor when newer improved versions come out.”
  • Invokana will reportedly cost $9 per pill. Its most common side effects at this point are urinary tract and yeast infections and low blood pressure due to the drug’s diuretic effects.

Find more information at HLNTV.com and FDA.gov.

 

 

 

Also Read: 

Three New Type 2 Diabetes Medications Give Patients More Options

The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook  

Sugar vs Salt: The Battle to See Which Will Kill More of Us

image via drugwatch.com

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