BRIEF — Diabetes drug approved to reduce risk of CV events

Invokana (canagliflozin) has become the only oral diabetes drug approved in the USA to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular (CV) death.

The SGLT2 inhibitor from the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen has been approved in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established CV disease.

Reacting to news of this new indication, James List, global therapeutic area head, CV and metabolism, Janssen Research & Development, said: “Not only does Invokana enable patients to control their diabetes symptoms by lowering their A1C levels, but it now also helps protect them from potentially devastating cardiovascular events.”