New Diabetes Drug Expected This Week

By Kathleen Doheny WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

April 11, 2013 -- A new oral diabetes drug is expected to arrive on pharmacy shelves in the U.S. this week.

Many people predict that Invokana (canagliflozin), approved by the FDA in March, will be a brisk seller. That's partly because it treats type 2 diabetes in a new way.

It's also because Invokana not only helped patients improve blood sugar control, but also lose weight and control their high blood pressure, according to maker Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies.

Losing weight can help people control their diabetes.

In one 26-week study, those on Invokana lost about 6 to 8 pounds, while those in the placebo group lost only about a pound.

But the drug has side effects, including infections of the urinary tract, penis, and vagina. This leads some experts to have less enthusiasm for the new medicine.

It will also cost a lot more than other diabetes drugs. The wholesale cost for Invokana is $8.77 a pill, according to Katie Mahony, a spokeswoman for Janssen. Retail cost for the 100-milligram starting dose, without co-pays or coverage, is about $10 a pill, or $300 a month.

The popular diabetes drug metformin can cost as little as 25 cents a pill.

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New Diabetes Drug Expected This Week