Ingelheim, Germany and Indianapolis, US, June 09, 2012 – Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) presented study results that showed the investigational SGLT-2 inhibitor empagliflozin*, alone or as an add-on to metformin, reduced haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and body weight when given to adults with type 2 diabetes for up to 90 weeks. 1 HbA1c is an index of blood glucose control for the previous two to three months. The new data, from a Phase IIb open-label extension study, were presented as a late-breaking abstract at ADA.
Empagliflozin* is a member of an emerging class of compounds called sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, which lower high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) independently of insulin by blocking glucose reuptake in kidneys and thereby excreting excess glucose via the urine. This results in lowering HbA1c and weight irrespective of beta cell function or insulin resistance. 1