Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly begin US roll-out of diabetes drug Tradjenta

German independent drug major Boehringer Ingelheim and USA-based Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) announced yesterday that their new type 2 diabetes drug Tradjenta (linagliptin) is now available by prescription in pharmacies across the USA including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and many leading chain and independent pharmacies.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Tradjenta last month as a prescription medication used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. However, the collaboration between Lilly and Boehringer on the diabetes drug became embroiled in litigation from US biotech firm Amylin (Nasdaq: AMNL), which claimed their accord was anti-competitive due to its own link with Lilly for Byetta (linagliptin) and Bydureon (a long-lasting version still awaiting approval). Amylin gained a temporary injunction against the firm, which was later overturned (The Pharma Letter June 9).

Tradjenta will now compete in a US diabetes drug market valued at some $16.9 billion last year by IMS Health, where Merck & Co’s Januvia/Janumet (sitagliptin) franchise has a significant stake, garnering global sales of around $3.34 billion in 2010 and nearly $1 billion in the first quarter of this year.