Astellas, Kotobuki, Merck sales and marketing update

Astellas and Merck's MSD K.K. subsidiary announced the partners along with Kotobuki launched Suglat ipragliflozin in Japan to treat Type II diabetes. The partners said Suglat is the first sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor approved for the indication in the country. Astellas will manufacture and sell Suglat and co-promote it with Kotobuki and MSD. Adults are recommended to take a 50 mg daily dose, which may be increased up to 100 mg daily if effects are insufficient. The drug is available in packages of 100 tablets at 25 and 50 mg doses. The National Health Insurance (NHI) list price is ¥136.50 ($1.34) for the low-dose package and ¥205.50 ($2.01) for the high-dose package. ...