Takeda UK Announces Flat Price For New 45mg

Added: (Mon Nov 03 2003)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Takeda UK Ltd have announced that the new once-daily 45mg dose of Actos ® (pioglitazone HCI) will be available
at the same price as the 30mg dose (£36.96). The 45mg dose, available in the UK as a 45mg tablet from mid
November, has been shown to offer even greater glycaemic control than the 30mg dose when prescribed as
monotherapy 1 . The 45mg dose therefore offers physicians the opportunity to help patients who would benefit from
a higher dose at no extra cost.
In September 2003 Actos ® received European Commission approval as an oral monotherapy at doses up to 45mg
particularly in overweight Type 2 diabetes patients where other measures (such as diet and exercise) have failed
and treatment with metformin is not suitable because of contraindications or intolerance. Additionally Actos ® is also
indicated for oral combination treatment at doses up to 45mg in Type 2 diabetes in patients with insufficient
glycaemic control despite maximal tolerated dose of oral monotherapy with either metformin or sulphonylurea as
follows:
- In combination with metformin particularly in overweight patients
- In combination with a sulphonylurea only in patients who show intolerance to metformin or for whom
metformin is contraindicated
Dr Michael Mead, a general practitioner from Leicester said: “The flat price for Actos ® 45mg is good news for
doctors and patients alike, offering the flexibility to manage patients without imposing any additional cost on
prescribing.”
Dr John Reckless, Consultant Physician at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, further added “Clinical evidence
illustrates that pioglitazone is extremely effective at managing poor glycaemic control and targeting insulin
resistance. That 45mg will be equal in price to 30mg should encourage greater confidence in the product among
physicians and lead to the more effective medical management of overweight patients with Type 2 Diabetes.”
Data presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting in New Orleans (June 2003) and at the International
Diabetes Federation meeting in Paris, France (August 2003) demonstrates that Actos ® as monotherapy at doses
up to 45mg or in combination with metformin or sulphonylurea sustains improvements in blood glucose control and
improves insulin sensitivity over the long term2

ends

For further information, please contact:

Simon Royston
Tel: (0207 462 5660)
Fax: (0207 462 5670)

Note for editors:

Actos® is a clinically proven, once a day medicine that belongs to a class of oral Type 2 Diabetes drugs called
thiazolidinediones. Actos ® works by reducing insulin resistance, and improving insulin sensitivity in the liver, skeletal muscle
Actos ® is always taken once a day and also helps to lower and control blood sugar levels. In addition
also lowers triglyceride levels and raises HDL-cholesterol levels in patients with Type 2 Diabetes with no statistically
significant changes in LDL-cholesterol levels compared to placebo.
Takeda UK Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd, the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan.
Takeda is a research-based company and is one of the industry’s leaders worldwide. Takeda is committed to strive towards
better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products.
References 1
Aronoff S et al. Pioglitazone hydrochloride monotherapy improves glycaemic control in the treatment of patients with type 2
diabetes. Diabetes Care 2000; 23: 1605-1611. 2 Edwards GC et al. Long-Term Combination Therapy with Pioglitazone plus Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes: Randomised
Comparative Study with Glicazide plus Metformin. Diabetes 2003;52 (suppl1): 506-P