Forxiga and metformin drug combo receives positive opinion for European use

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) have issued a positive opinion on the use of a diabetes drug that combines dapagliflozin (brand name Forxiga) and metformin within one pill.
The CHMP are part of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the positive opinion raises the likelihood of the new combination drug, named Xigduo, gaining approval for marketing in 2014.
Forxiga, one part of the combo pill, is one of the newest diabetes drugs to have gained approval having been approved to treat type 2 diabetes in Europe in November 2012 and received usage guidance by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in May 2013.
Forxiga is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2 inhibitor), which works by reducing reabsorption of glucose by the kidneys, therefore removing excess glucose in the blood via the urine. The drug has also shown promise in helping patients to lose weight as excess calories are removed by the body through the excretion of glucose.
Metformin is one of the oldest oral drugs available for treating type 2 diabetes and is recognised to be one of the safest diabetes drugs, having few critical side effects.
The next stage in the approval process will involve the European Commission which will review the CHMP’s opinion on the medication.