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Novartis' Galvus works for older diabetics

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Swiss firm Novartis said Wednesday new data show its once-daily drug Galvus is especially beneficial in older patients with type 2 diabetes.

Pooled data from a number of phase 3 studies suggest that Galvus significantly reduced blood-sugar levels in people age 65 and older, a group that can be particularly hard to treat with existing oral medications, the drug maker said.

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The treatment also seems to work without the increased side-effect risk that can limit more aggressive therapy in older patients, Novartis added.

Also, efficacy studies of Galvus at a once-daily dosing showed patients taking 100 mg of Galvus daily saw overall blood-sugar reductions of 1 percent in average blood-sugar measure over two to three months, and up to 1.8 percent in patients with the highest baseline blood-sugar levels.

The findings were presented this week at the 19th World Diabetes Congress of the International Diabetes Federation in Cape Town, South Africa.

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