FDA Approves Takeda’s DPP-4 inhibitors Nesina, Kazano, and Oseni

In January, the FDA announced the approval of three of Takeda’s new once-daily DPP-4 inhibitor pills for type 2 diabetes. DPP-4 inhibitors have been the best-selling type 2 diabetes therapy in the last few years, mainly because they are easy to take (once-daily pill) and can control blood sugar with a lower risk for hypoglycemia and similar weight gain risk comparable to placebo. Takeda’s Nesina (alogliptin) is a DPP-4 inhibitor alone, Kazano is a single-pill combination of Nesina and metformin, and Oseni is combo of Nesina and Takeda’s diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone). Though Actos is helpful for controlling blood sugars, there are serious risks associated with the drug, including increased potential for bladder cancer and heart disease and we ask you to discuss these with your HCP if you plan on taking it. Takeda’s DPP-4 inhibitors will be the fourth set of drugs in the class approved by the FDA – they will join Januvia (sitagliptin), Onglyza (saxagliptin), and Tradjenta (linagliptin) here in the US. We believe the DPP-4 inhibitor drug class will be even more widely used in the coming years, as 1) sulfonylureas continue to lose favor; 2) companies like Merck are developing once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitors; and 3) as healthcare providers use drugs that create less hassle for patients. Also, DPP-4 inhibitors will go generic in or around 2022, which will then make them much cheaper for patients. –MN