Merck and Astellas to co-develop Januvia and Suglat combo

MSD KK, the Japanese subsidiary of US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), and Japan’s Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503) last week signed a memorandum of understanding regarding co-development and co-commercialization of a combination product of Januvia (sitagliptin) and Suglat (ipragliflozin L-proline), in Japan. No financial terms of the cooperation were revealed.

Merck’s Januvia, Japan’s first once-daily DPP-4 inhibitor, selectively inhibits DPP-4 and increases the active incretin level, demonstrating glucose-dependent effect to lower blood sugar levels. Suglat, from Astellas, Japan’s first once-daily SGLT2 inhibitor, selectively inhibits SGLT2 and reduces blood glucose levels by inhibiting the reuptake of glucose.

Through this MoU, MSD KK and Astellas will further contribute to diabetes treatment, offering a new option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes where controlling blood sugar levels with a single-agent therapy is often a challenge, the companies stated.