PHILADELPHIA, July 11 (UPI) -- GlaxoSmithKline said Tuesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Avandamet for first-line type 2 diabetes therapy.
Avandamet was previously approved as a second-line therapy in patients who had an inadequate response to metformin.
"GlaxoSmithKline is committed to developing diabetes therapies to treat a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and throughout the world," said Anne Phillips, GSK's vice president of clinical for North America cardiovascular-metabolic.
"With the approval of Avandamet for use as initial therapy as an adjunct to diet and exercise, GSK offers this effective and convenient option now for initial treatment of type 2 diabetes," Phillips added. "This combination of rosiglitazone and metformin can help patients get their blood sugar under control."
