Drug may reduce cardio problems

By KATHERINE HOBY

A significant diabetes medication that could save millions of health dollars and many lives may soon be financed by the Government.

Avandia is a drug for type-2 diabetics developed by GlaxoSmithKline.

Creator Dr Steve Smith, head of non-clinical support studies for the drug in England, was in New Zealand last week to present new research.

Dr Smith said Avandia treated insulin resistance in type-2 diabetics, using a novel mechanism older drugs did not have.

But he said some of the latest clinical data showed the drug also helped reduce the long-term risk of cardiovascular complications for those people.

Type-2 diabetics are known to be at an increased risk of heart attack or stroke as a result of their diabetes. Dr Smith said the average lifespan of a type-2 diabetic was reduced by 10 years because of the risk of cardiovascular complications.

"Cardio complications are a major burden on any health system. When you end up in hospital, that is when this really becomes an expensive disease," he said.

GlaxoSmithKline would spend more than $250 million over the next eight or nine years to produce definite proof that the drug could significantly reduce cardiovascular complications in type-2 diabetics, he said.

"The sort of money we're spending shows our confidence in this drug."

GlaxoSmithKline managing director Pete Schweikert said an approach had been made to Pharmac regarding the financing of Avandia.

"They have come back with a pretty positive response," he said.

"I think this is of such value, both clinically and economically, that we should be able to negotiate on it."

Mr Schweikert said that given the promising data already available, he hoped negotiations would be quick.

Avandia was launched in the United States in 1999.

Over 2.5 million patients have used it since then.

* Dr Smith and his research team were recently awarded the prestigious Society for Medicines Research Drug Discovery Award this year for Avandia.

Fact File

* What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease of raised blood glucose (sugar). The level of blood glucose is controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.

There are two main types of diabetes:

* Type-1 - Insulin-dependent diabetes, which is caused by the destruction of insulin-producing cells and leads to an insulin deficiency.

* Type-2 - Non-insulin-dependent diabetes caused by a resistance of the body's cells to insulin, and a relative insulin deficit.

Type-2 accounts for 90-95 per cent of all cases in New Zealand.

* What is the impact of diabetes?

Diabetes damages almost all tissues and organs in the body with the high level of blood glucose.

It is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputation. It is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease.

* What are the risk factors?

People who are overweight and physically inactive have a significantly increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Diabetes also has a hereditary component. It is more common in Maori, Pacific Island and Asian people. Its prevalence increases with age - one in six of those over 60 are diagnosed with diabetes.

* How much does diabetes cost the nation?

There is limited information on the total cost of diabetes. In-patient costs alone are estimated at $95 million a year, and prescription costs at $29 million.

* Can it be prevented?

The risk of developing type-2 diabetes can be reduced by regular physical activity, cutting down on fat, and increasing fruit and vegetable diet content.

* Information supplied by the Ministry of Health.

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