The drug, Prandin, made by a Danish biotechnology group, is the first of a whole new class of drugs that affect inssulin, but only briefly. The idea is to give diabetics more precise control of insulin levels. The FDA generally follows it's advisory panel's advice. If it does, Prandin could be approved within six months. It would be the second new diabetes drug to hit the market this year, after years of nothing new.
Diabetics have trouble controlling blood sugar and fats naturally.
I diabetics usually need regular injections of insulin while type-2 diabetics, the vast majority, can use insulin, drugs, diet and exercise to control their disease. The panel said that Prandin seemed to have a novel effect, but that it was unclear how it would fit into treatment. Prandin, the first of a new class of oral drugs called benzoic acid derivatives, stimulates the secretion of insulin but only when needed - at mealtimes. It will be for patients who can't control blood sugar through diet and exercise. Prandin experts say, may be an advance over standard drugs, known as sulfonylureas, which can cause dangerous drops in the blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, particularly in the elderly.