Locals who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes may have a new drug option that is manufactured in their own state.
Bydureon, which has been developed and manufactured in an Amylin Pharmaceuticals factory in West Chester, Ohio, is an injected, one dose a week drug for those who suffer from Type 2 diabetes. The drug has been approved by the FDA and will be available to the public by Feb. 17.
The drug was already approved for use in Europe in June 2011. It is the only drug that is manufactured by the company, which is based out of San Diego, at the West Chester plant, according to Vice President of Corporate Affairs Alice Izzo.
"We believe it is important that physicians have this option for their patients as it offers blood glucose control with just one dose, instead of two or three times a day doses," Izzo said. "It can change the outlook of the disease for the patient as it puts them in control of their diabetes."
Even though there are many drugs that treat diabetes on the market, Izzo believes this drug is just another form of therapy patients can take.
"For many people diabetes is progressive and over time some treatments may stop working so new therapies are important to discover," Izzo said.
Amylin was founded in 1987 and produces two other diabetes drugs, Byetta and Symlin. The company bought an old warehouse in West Chester in 2005 and that location has been the sole source of Bydureon since its inception.
"We started thinking about this once weekly drug since the early 2000s," Izzo said. But it might not seem as easy as it looks.
Miami University Director of Student Health Services Dr. Gregory Calkins pointed towards the flip side. Even though the drug might work just fine for some diabetics, it could also have a down side.
"Proper dosage and change in [the body's] need has to be paid attention to once the drug is released," Calkins said.
If the drug has a lasting impact on the patient, it would be very helpful for them.
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"The trend has been towards longer acting drugs," Calkins said.
It has to be kept in mind that this drug is designed specifically for Type 2 diabetics only. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed later on in life. Blood sugar has to be constantly maintained and healthy eating habits need to be adopted.
The other kind of diabetes is Type 1, which is common among young children and teenagers. It is often referred to as juvenile onset diabetes.
Senior Elijah Purington is a Type 1 diabetic who got diagnosed when he was 17 years old.
"There is a big misconception that you have [Type 1 diabetes] when you are born," Purington said.
Being a diabetic, Purington is insulin dependent and has to not only inject himself but also constantly test his blood sugar, something that people find hard to do.
When asked about the new drug, Purington was curious about its price.
"If it's an affordable drug, people are going to take it" said Purington.
Neither kind of diabetes is 100 percent curable but drugs like Bydureon would surely be something that diabetics would like to try.
A similar drug for type one diabetics would be very useful as well.
"I definitely would use it," Purington said.
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