Drugmakers Eli Lilly and Co., Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Alkermes Inc. said yesterday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
has accepted their application for the once-a-week diabetes drug exenatide.
Exenatide is the primary ingredient
of Byetta, a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
While Byetta is injected twice a day, the newer drug is intended to
be injected weekly. Both products are designed to help diabetes patients keep their blood glucose under control by sending
a signal to the pancreas, leading to the production of insulin. That reduces appetite and can also reduce weight.
Lilly, based in Indianapolis, has not launched a new drug since the original Byetta in 2005. Sales of Byetta totaled $751.4
million in 2008. Amylin develops diabetes treatments and obesity treatments, and Alkermes developed the extended-release technology
used in the drug.
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