Launch of Suglat® Tablets, a Selective SGLT2 Inhibitor for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
- First SGLT2 Inhibitor in Japan, Providing New Options in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes -

TOKYO, April 17, 2014 - Astellas Pharma Inc. ("Astellas"; Tokyo:4503; President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka) and MSD K.K. ("MSD" ; President and Representative Director: Tony Alvarez) announced that selective SGLT2 inhibitor Suglat® Tablets 25mg and 50mg (generic name: Ipragliflozin L-Proline, "Suglat® Tablets") became available for the indication of type 2 diabetes in the Japanese market today.

Suglat® Tablets is a selective SGLT2 (Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2) inhibitor discovered through a research collaboration and is being jointly developed by Astellas and Kotobuki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Kotobuki"). SGLTs are membrane proteins that exist on the cell surface and transfer glucose into cells. SGLT2 is one subtype of SGLTs and plays a key role in the reuptake of glucose in the proximal tubule of the kidneys. Suglat® Tablets reduces blood glucose levels by inhibiting the reuptake of glucose by selectively inhibiting SGLT2.

Suglat® Tablets is the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in Japan. Astellas will manufacture and sell Suglat® Tablets and co-promote it with Kotobuki and MSD.

Astellas and MSD are proud to provide an additional therapeutic option and further contribute to the treatment of type 2 diabetes by introducing Suglat® Tablets, an oral antidiabetic agent for type 2 diabetes with a novel mechanism of action, into the Japanese market.

Product outline of "Suglat® Tablets 25mg and 50mg" is as follows.

Brand name:

Suglat® Tablets 25mg and 50mg

Generic name:

Ipragliflozin L-Proline

Indication:

Type 2 Diabetes

Dosage regimen:

Usually, adults are orally administered 50mg once a day before or after breakfast. If the effects are insufficient, dosage may be increased up to 100mg once a day while carefully monitoring the progress of the disease.

Packaging

Suglat® Tablets 25mg: 100 tablets (10 tablets x 10 sheets)

Suglat® Tablets 50mg: 100 tablets (10 tablets x 10 sheets)

Price

Suglat® Tablets 25mg: 136.50 yen

Suglat® Tablets 50mg: 205.50 yen

Drug Price Listing Date

April 17, 2014

Launch Date

April 17, 2014

With the objective of prevention of medical accidents, Astellas has adopted the user-friendly artwork on blisters, which make it easy to identify even when PTP sheet is divided, and worked on the improvements of medicine identification with (i) print of product name and dosage on each pocket (each medicine), (ii) ingenuity of letter size and color, (iii) display of efficacy and so on.

distributed by