CHARLESTON, W.Va., May 25 (UPI) -- U.S. pharmaceutical companies released a report Tuesday showing a record 235 medicines to treat diabetes in development.
The report was released in Charleston, W.Va., by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a trade group known as PhRMA that represents U.S. pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies.
Ken Johnson, senior vice president of PhRMA, said the report was released in West Virginia since 11.4 percent of the adult population in that state suffers from diabetes -- the highest rate of any U.S. state.
Type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to lifestyle, was once called "adult onset" diabetes because it was so rare among children," Johnson said. "But as more and more children are increasingly overweight or obese and inactive, the disease is being seen in even very young children. If present trends continue, one in three American children born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetimes. (This) nation must step up efforts to stop this alarming trend, and at the same time continue its strong commitment to the cutting-edge research that allows diabetes patients to manage their disease and live productive lives,"
He said the medicines in development include drugs to treat eye diseases, foot ulcers and blood sugar regulation -- all affected by the disease.
