Newly Approved Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Now Available in Pharmacies

Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly’s empagliflozin and linagliptin (Glyxambi) type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment is now available by prescription at pharmacies across the United States, including Walgreens and Rite Aid.

Approved by the FDA in late January 2015 as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with T2D, Glyxambi comes in a once-daily tablet that combines 10 mg or 25 mg of empagliflozin with 5 mg of linagliptin.

"As the fourth diabetes medicine to emerge from our alliance pipeline in the US, we believe Glyxambi may help adults with T2D lower their blood sugar and manage their diabetes,” said Kathleen Dowd, senior vice president of marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, in a press release.

The FDA based its approval of Glyxambi on a phase 3 clinical trial that established greater efficacy and safety of the combined drug compared with its individual components in adult T2D patients taking high-dose metformin.

Pancreatitis was the leading serious side effect associated with Glyxambi, and it has the potential to lead to death. For this reason, the manufacturers encourage patients to discuss their risk of pancreatitis with a health care professional before taking Glyxambi.