Trending News Today: DEA Report Shows Record High Drug Overdose Deaths

Dulaglutide (Trulicity), Eli Lilly’s treatment for type 2 diabetes, significantly reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in individuals with diabetes, Reuters reported. According to the article, Eli Lilly said dulaglutide is the first type 2 diabetes drug to show this kind of statistically significant reduction in heart risk during a clinical trial in which a majority of patients did not already have heart disease. The trial compared 1.5 mg of dulaglutide once per week with a placebo in 9901 patients, the article reported. Eli Lilly said it will disclose the full results of the trial at the American Diabetes Association meeting in June and plans to submit data to regulators for review next year.

A recent US Drug Enforcement Administration report showed that drug overdose deaths have hit the highest level ever recorded in the United States last year, the Associated Press reported. According to the article, preliminary figures show more than 72,000 individuals died from drug overdoses across the United States in 2017, with 46,060 being opioid-related deaths. The report showed that heroin, fentanyl, and other opioids continue to present the highest overdose threat, the article reported.

Novartis’ Sandoz division will not proceed with efforts to gain FDA approval for its biosimilar of rituximab, a drug used to treat certain types of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, Reuters reported. According to the article, Novartis decided to abandon efforts after the agency sought additional information to support the company’s application for the drug, which is already approved in the European Union, Switzerland, Japan, and Australia. Sandoz received a complete response letter from the FDA for biosimilar rituximab on May 2, the article reported.