AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) has won regulatory approval for a breakthrough diabetes drug with its new product Forxiga becoming the first oral treatment for the type-1 form of the disease in Europe.
It will be used as an “adjunct” to insulin for people whose glucose levels are not adequately controlled with the hormone alone.
“We look forward to bringing Forxiga to a patient population that has not had any approved oral medicines available before," said Elisabeth Björk, AZ’s head of cardiovascular, renal and metabolism.
It is estimated that there are just over 300,000 UK sufferers of type-1 diabetes, a chronic disease that means pancreas produces little or no insulin.
The condition is caused by an autoimmune reaction that destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which make insulin.