Health Canada warns on SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes

17 May 2016

Serious, sometimes life-threatening and fatal cases of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) have been reported in patients on sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, warns medicines regulator Health Canada.

In a number of these cases, the presentation of the condition was atypical with only moderately increased blood glucose levels observed. SGLT2 inhibitors are not indicated for treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus and should not be used in type 1 diabetes.

These drugs include AstraZeneca's (LSE: AZN) Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Xigduo (dapagliflozin and metformin), Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) Invokana (canagliflozin) and Jardiance (empagliflozin) from Boehringer Ingelheim.

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