Despite Actos Warnings, Study Says Actos Could Increase Effectiveness of Antidepressants

A new study completed by a team of researchers from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran suggests the use of Actos could be effective in treating depression symptoms by boosting the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. Though evidence continues to pile up and Actos warnings have been called for across the globe about the potential risk of bladder cancer associated with the drug, the researchers said that patients given the drug reported fewer depression symptoms after six weeks of treatment, the Daily Mail reports. The study, conducted by professor Shahin Akhondzadeh and colleagues, examined 40 patients with moderate to severe [...]

Study Finds Type 2 Diabetes Harder to Treat in Overweight Teens

New research suggests heavier teens may struggle more after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, CBS News reports. According to the media outlet, diagnosing a teen with type 2 diabetes was a rare occurrence only 15 years ago. But today, one-third of U.S. children and teens are either overweight or obese, and could be on track to develop type 2 diabetes – a condition in which the body can't produce enough insulin on its own. In a study released on April 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine, experts analyzed several ways to maintain a healthy blood sugar level [...]

Novo Nordisk Backs Victoza While Actos Warnings Remain

While health regulators around the world continue to call for Actos warnings, Novo Nordisk recently defended its own diabetes drug, Victoza, from attacks by a consumer advocacy group. According to Reuters, Public Citizen said recently that Victoza increases the risk of serious health issues including kidney failure and thyroid cancer. Novo Nordisk, the Danish manufacturer of the medication, called such complaints baseless and noted it did not expect the FDA to take any action on its best-selling diabetes drug. Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, chief science officer for Novo Nordisk, told the news source that Public Citizen had been citing old data [...]

As Takeda Faces Actos Lawsuits, Merck Profits from Diabetes Drugs

Merck & Company, the second-largest drugmaker in the U.S., recently reported higher-than-anticipated sales of diabetes drugs during the first quarter, as companies like Takeda Pharmaceutical continue to face Actos lawsuits. According to Bloomberg, Merck's net income rose 67 percent from the previous year, while revenue increased 1.3 percent. The Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based company was boosted significantly by higher sales of its Januvia and Janumet diabetes medications. Analysts believe Merck's drugs in development will be key to its turnaround. "Merck is emerging from a challenging 2011," Tony Butler, an analyst with Barclays Capital Inc., said in a research report. "The [...]

Facing Actos Lawsuits, Takeda’s Successor Drug Fails to Win Approval

Asia's biggest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, was unable to win clearance to sell its newest diabetes drug in the U.S., representing another setback for the drug manufacturer that is facing a number of Actos lawsuits. Bloomberg reports regulators said in a response letter to Takeda they wanted more information on the use of the diabetes medication in other countries. Takeda said the letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration calls for new data collected from outside the U.S. and from patient studies that are being conducted. The rejection of the type 2 diabetes medication, which is known chemically as [...]