More than sugar-coated promises: what pharma is doing for diabetes

Diabetes has shifted from being a chronic condition that affects a few, to being a global epidemic that is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide.

It has been predicted that by 2020, 15% of adults in the USA will be diagnosed with diabetes, and by 2050 prevalence will reach 20%1. As such, diabetes also serves as the pharmaceutical industry’s fastest-growing market, with researchers suggesting that by 2030, the costs of prevention and treatment will reach $490 billion internationally2.

Currently, there are 12 medicines available to treat the condition, including Novo Nordisk’s (NOV: N) Victoza (liraglutide), AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) Forxiga (dapagliflozin) and Merck & Co’s (NYSE: MRK) Januvia (sitagliptin)3. The pharma industry is taking diabetes seriously, but there are concerns from payers and patients that medicines are too expensive.