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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDrugmakers Eli Lilly and Co., Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Alkermes Inc. said yesterday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
has accepted their application for the once-a-week diabetes drug exenatide.
Exenatide is the primary ingredient
of Byetta, a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
While Byetta is injected twice a day, the newer drug is intended to
be injected weekly. Both products are designed to help diabetes patients keep their blood glucose under control by sending
a signal to the pancreas, leading to the production of insulin. That reduces appetite and can also reduce weight.
Lilly, based in Indianapolis, has not launched a new drug since the original Byetta in 2005. Sales of Byetta totaled $751.4
million in 2008. Amylin develops diabetes treatments and obesity treatments, and Alkermes developed the extended-release technology
used in the drug.
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