Dropped diabetes drug valuable

The diabetes pill Pargluva, today dropped by Bristol -Myers Squibb following delays in federal approval, had potential to influence the way in which diabetics live their lives.
Pargluva, which has the generic name muraglitazar, had performed well in lowering blood sugar levels amongst type 2 diabetics. The drug performed particularly well for those patients who don’t respond adequately to more common diabetes drugs such as metformin. Pargluva was also found to improve cholesterol levels. The findings were reported in leading diabetes journal Diabetes Care, following a study by experts at the University of Texas Health Sciences Centre, San Antonio .
The drug was dropped by its developer after approval delays by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration.) An advocacy group in America called Public Citize, called on the FDA to delay approving pargluva. The drug is thought to have links to congestive heart failure .
Bristol-Myers today announced that they would drop the drug from their diabetes development pipeline . Merck, who were initially partners in seeking approval for the drug, pulled out at the end of 2005. For type 2 diabetics looking for alternatives to metformin and other standard non-insulin diabetes drugs, the news may come as a disappointment.