Januvia diabetes drug launches strong

Januvia, the new diabetes drug created by Merck and Co, has been showing a strong initial success. The news comes from a survey conducted by a market research company called ImpactRx Inc. They obtained their results by tracking free samples and new prescriptions.
Januvia is the first (and currently only following the delay of FDA approval for Galvus) in a new class of diabetes drug. The aggressive marketing campaign initiated by Merck appears to be working well, with physicians and specialists eager to embrace the new treatment. The drug apparently accounted for 14 per cent of new prescriptions written last week, instantly placing Januvia as a rival to several more established diabetes brands .
Industry experts who forecasted Januvia competing with Avandia have been proved correct. The senior vice president of strategic development at ImpactRX, Patrick Angelastro, said: “In situations where physicians are making a brand choice, it’s clear that Januvia is off to a strong start and Merck looks to be putting the promotional muscle behind it to make that happen.”
Januvia does not have any weight gain side effects, whereas both Avandia and Actos have been linked to weight gain. The drug promises to have a major impact on the diabetes drug market, and the quality of life for many diabetics.