FRANKFURT, Sept 16 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca saidcombining its Forxiga type-2 diabetes drug with older medicineBydureon was more effective at controlling blood sugar levelsthan treatment with either drug on its own.
In a late stage trial, Forxiga and Bydureon were tested onpatients whose blood sugar levels could no longer besufficiently kept in check under an initial standard diabetestherapy with metformin.
The combination therapy led to a 1.95 percent reduction inHbA1c, a measure of long-term blood glucose levels, better thanthe 1.58 percent and 1.37 percent reduction from using Bydureonand Forxiga on their own, respectively.
The drug combination was also shown to be better in terms ofthe secondary study goals weight loss and blood pressurereduction. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Arno Schuetze)