FDA Approves New Diabetes Drug

FDA approves new diabetes drug

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved the drug Symlin for the use in addition to insulin by diabetes patients to help lower blood sugar.

The drug, made by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. of San Diego, California, is intended only to be used in combination with insulin, to help lower blood sugar during the three hours after meals, the FDA said.

Symlin can be taken by adult patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. But it has not been tested for use in children.

The FDA said mixing Symlin with insulin in the same syringe can affect the activity of the insulin.

Symlin therapy may lead to low blood sugar, particularly in patients with type 1 diabetes and in patients with stomach problems.

The drug’s side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue and dizziness, according to the FDA.