Takeda's Actos prevents atherosclerotic plaque growth in diabetic patients

Pharmaceutical Business Review ^ | 1st April 2008 | NA

[neverdem]

Takeda Pharmaceuticals Europe has reported new data from a clinical trial which showed that Actos has reduced the atherosclerotic burden in the coronary arteries compared to the sulphonylurea glimepiride, and prevented progression compared to baseline in patients living with type 2 diabetes.

Results from the Periscope trial were also presented by the company. Periscope is claimed to be the first clinical trial to examine the effects of an oral antidiabetic medication on the development of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes using Ivus technology.

Ivus measures the volume of plaque build-up in the coronary arteries, a marker of coronary atherosclerosis. The 18-month trial, involving 543 patients, was conducted in 97 centres in the US, Canada and Latin America.

The analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference in percent change in coronary artery atheroma volume in favor of Actos treatment compared to glimepiride treatment. The data showed that patients treated with glimepiride exhibited progression of coronary atherosclerosis, whilst in contrast the Actos arm showed no progression of coronary atherosclerosis over the 18-month period from the initial baseline measurement.

[neverdem]

Comparison of Pioglitazone vs Glimepiride on Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

[purpleraine]

Thanx for posting this.

[grey_whiskers]

Like, *PING*, folks.

Cheers!

[VOA]

I’m not a pharmacist...
and I don’t play one on TV.

But from my work in biological research which included collaboration
with Japanese researchers...
Takeda Pharmaceuticals seems to have a good reputation as a pharmaceutical
research company.

Here’s a list of some of their products.
http://www.takeda.com/products/ethical-drugs/article_896.html

I suspect their drug “Prevacid” is the most familiar to American consumers.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

My fil has type II diabetes. Am I correct in understanding that this drug is already on the market in the U.S.?

[sinanju]

So it actually reverses plaque buildup? Even in non-diabetics?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Am I correct in understanding that this drug is already on the market in the U.S.?

Yes. I just went off of it. It was one of my goals since the copay was so high for me it seemed the logical choice.

I may discuss this with my doctor next month and see about swapping it for another med. Atherosclerosis is present in my family history.

[VOA]

“Am I correct in understanding that this drug is already on the market
in the U.S.?”

Post 7 of this thread seems to confirm that it is.

As well as some of the other info I gathered:

Actos website:
http://www.actos.com/actos/home.aspx?gclid=CN-U_Pqyu5ICFSWLkgodzxTeXw

(See this line informational lines at the bottom of the webpage:
“This site is intended for use by U.S. residents only.”)

FAQ about Actos:
http://www.actos.com/actos/faq.aspx

Google Search for “Actos” “Takeda” “USA”:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=%22Actos%22+%22Takeda%22+%22USA%22&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images

[VOA]

“Am I correct in understanding that this drug is already on the market
in the U.S.?”

One caveat I might as venture (as an amateur)...it could be that it’s on
the US market...but not yet labeled to be used for the treatment/reversal
of clogged arteries.

That is...it is labeled for use in treating Type 2 diabetes, not
for un-clogging arteries.
Thus an MD likely would be reticent to prescribe it to some one with
clogged arteries...unless they had Type 2 diabetes.

Other Freepers with real expertise (MD, Pharmacists) will surely
correct me on my speculations.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Thanks so much.

[FrdmLvr]

What about chelation therapy? Isn’t that safer than taking meds?

[bioqubit]

it’s expensive even with copay - over $100/month.

Also, Actos does not work for everyone. Some people’s blood sugar doesn’t respond.

[neverdem]

What about chelation therapy? Isn’t that safer than taking meds?

Unless you can show me some double blind, placebo controlled studies that show decreased morbidity and mortality, it's probably quackery. I'm not aware of chelation therapy showing any benefit for coronary artery disease.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the links.

[neverdem]

So it actually reverses plaque buildup? Even in non-diabetics?

No. Why didn't you check the link? Here's the conclusion from the abstract linked in comment# 1:

"Conclusion In patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease, treatment with pioglitazone resulted in a significantly lower rate of progression of coronary atherosclerosis compared with glimepiride."

[neverdem]

Researchers find new diabetes genes

Diabetes Dictionary

Freepmail me if you want on or off of the diabetes ping list.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

My husband takes 45 mg once a day. Even w/our insurance co-pay it is very expensive...but apparently worth it. He also takes metformin (glucophage) for Type 2 diabetes.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Thanks — I think they have very good med insurance.

[Jabba the Nutt]

That’s a big success. I can’t take Actos (love the name, reminds me of Mentos), it causes me tooth pain/sensitivity.

[ex-snook]

Works for me.