Januvia reduces blood sugar in elderly diabetics

New data presented at the 61st annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, in Maryland, showed that Merck & Co's Januvia (sitagliptin) significantly reduced blood sugar levels in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and was not associated with hypoglycemia.

According to the US drug major, 206 patients aged 65 to 96 years reported no cases of low blood sugar levels in either the Januvia or the placebo groups. "The elderly population presents challenges for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as various factors can affect their ability to lower blood sugar to target levels," said lead study investigator Nir Barzilai.

In this 24-week study, the mean placebo-adjusted A1C reduction from baseline was 0.7% (Januvia, -0.5% versus placebo, +0.2%; p<0.001). More than twice as many patients treated with Januvia had an A1C less than the American Diabetes Association recommended A1C goal of 7.0% at 24 weeks compared with patients given placebo (35% vs 15%, respectively; p<0.05).