UK NICE wants more info on type 2 diabetes drug Jardiance

In a new draft guidance issued today, the UK drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has called for more evidence on type 2 diabetes drug Jardiance (empagliflozin), produced by German family-owned drug major Boehringer Ingelheim and partner Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY).

Empagliflozin works by blocking the re-absorption of glucose in the kidneys which is instead passed out of the body in the urine. It is an oral, once-daily medication belonging to a class of drugs called sodium glucose co-transporter (SGLT-2) inhibitors.

Commenting on the draft guidance Carole Longson, Director of the NICE Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, said:“Type 2 diabetes is a major problem facing the NHS, affecting almost 2.5 million people in England, so it’s important to have a varied arsenal to tackle it. NICE already recommends several treatments, alongside lifestyle and dietary advice, specifically for managing blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Each has its advantages and disadvantages that affect how suitable they are. New treatments, like empagliflozin, will help clinicians give people with type 2 diabetes the right treatment.”