Merck’s Januvia Approved in the EU

The European Commission has approved Merck’s Januvia, a once-daily oral treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes. Januvia is the first medication in a new class of drugs known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors), which enhance the body’s own ability to lower blood sugar, to be adopted by the European Commission.

Januvia is indicated in patients with type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control in combination with metformin when diet and exercise plus metformin do not provide adequate glycemic control. For patients with type 2 diabetes when the use of a PPAR-gamma agonist (i.e. a thiazolidinedione) is appropriate, Januvia is indicated in combination with the PPAR-gamma agonist when diet and exercise plus the PPAR-gamma agonist alone do not provide adequate glycemic control.

Januvia will be launched shortly in the EU countries. Januvia is now approved for use in 42 countries around the world including Mexico, the U.S., and the Philippines.