Janssen's Diabetes Drug Shows Promise Despite Serious Side Effects

Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (J&J), announced some intriguing new data regarding its diabetes drug Invokana (canagliflozin).

Results from a randomized, Phase 2 study featuring 351 patients with inadequately controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus demonstrated Invokana was able to simultaneously lower mean glucose levels and glycemic variability, according to FiercePharma.

Furthermore, the drug increased the amount of time study participants spent within targeted glucose ranges. Janssen’s release noted there were “no meaningful changes in the time patients spent below target” in the different test groups.

The treatment was generally well-tolerated, but there was an increased risk of ketoacidosis, which is a condition that causes the body to overproduce excess blood acids due to a lack of insulin in the body.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday updated its drug label warnings about the risk for acute kidney injury that can occur when taking the type 2 diabetes drugs, Invokana and AstraZeneca’s Farxiga. Acute kidney injury is a complication of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Overall, this study data indicates it could add another indication to a blockbuster for J&J since it is only approved for type 2 diabetes as of right now. The pharmaceutical giant made $325 million in worldwide sales from this drug in the first quarter of 2016, added FiercePharma.

Janssen announced this study data on Monday at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association.