Japanese approval for Merck’s diabetes drug Marizev

Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), the USA’s second-largest pharma company, has received approval from the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) for Marizev (omarigliptin) an oral, once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Japan is the first country to have approved omarigliptin.

“More than 6 million adults in Japan have type 2 diabetes and many still struggle to control their blood sugar levels,” said Tony Alvarez, president, MSD in Japan. “The approval of Marizev in Japan demonstrates our long-term commitment to diabetes and leadership in the DPP-4 inhibitor class. We believe Marizev offers an important option for people in Japan to manage their type 2 diabetes, particularly for those who prefer once-weekly dosing.”

The approval of Marizev in Japan is based on Phase III trials of Japanese patients. The worldwide clinical development program for omarigliptin, O-QWEST (Omarigliptin Q Weekly Efficacy and Safety in Type 2 Diabetes), includes 10 Phase III clinical trials involving around 8,000 patients with type 2 diabetes. Merck plans to submit omarigliptin for regulatory approval in the USA by the end of 2015. Other worldwide regulatory submissions will follow. The trade mark for omarigliptin in other countries has not yet been announced, said Merck.