Updated glitazone licence includes oral monotherapy indication
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) can now be used as monotherapy in type 2 diabetes.
The summary of product characteristics for each drug now states that
both glitazones are indicated as oral monotherapy in type 2 diabetes
patients, particularly overweight patients inadequately controlled by
diet and exercise for whom metformin is inappropriate because of contraindications
or intolerance.
The new indications come just a few days after the National Institute
for Clinical Excellence (NICE) released its guidance on glitazone use
in type 2 diabetes (PJ, 30 August, p257). The guidance does not make
recommendations about use of the drugs as monotherapy because they were
not licensed for this at the time.
A NICE spokesman said: “The guidance does not override the individual
responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate decisions
in the circumstances of the individual patient”. He added that
when the guidance is reviewed the recommendations will take into account
any extensions to the licence for the use of glitazones.
Sally Wright, from Diabetes UK, told The Journal: “Clinicians need
to look closely at the full range of treatments and make sure they are
putting the patients’ health first when interpreting guidelines.” |
