The following new drug licence applications have been made recently.
Omapatrilat Bristol-Myers Squibb has submitted licence applications in Europe and the United States to market omapatrilat, its new antihypertensive drug. The compound is the first in a new class of compounds called vasopeptidase inhibitors. These drugs have a dual effect in that they inhibit two enzymes: neutral endopeptidase and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) (PJ, November 13, 1999, p777).
Trizivir Glaxo Wellcome has announced that it has applied for European and US licences for Trizivir, a triple combination tablet for the treatment of HIV infection. Trizivir, the first product to combine three anti-HIV therapies in one tablet, contains lamivudine 150mg, zidovudine 300mg and abacavir 300mg. It will be taken as one tablet twice daily.
Lotronex Glaxo Wellcome has submitted an application to market its new irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treatment, Lotronex, in Europe. The proposed indication is for treatment of female IBS patients with a non-constipation predominant bowel habit. The product contains alosetron, a 5HT3 receptor antagonist.
Starlix Starlix (nateglinide) is a new medicine for treatment of type II diabetes, from Novartis. The company has recently applied for marketing approval for the drug in Europe and the US. Novartis says that nateglinide induces rapid and short lived insulin secretion, and acts to reduce the post prandial "glucose spikes" that can occur in patients with diabetes.