Jardiance now includes cardiovascular risk reduction data on labels in Europe

Jardiance (empagliflozin) has become the first type 2 diabetes drug in Europe to include information about cardiovascular risk reduction on its label.
Jardiance is part of the SGLT2 inhibitor drug class, which works to help the kidneys remove excess glucose from the bloodstream through urine.
The drug, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (LLY), is the only type 2 diabetes treatment in Europe to be approved for both blood sugar control and cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among people with type 2 diabetes.
Dr Georg van Huse, corporate senior vice president, head of the therapeutic area CardioMetabolism for Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “One in two people with type 2 diabetes die of cardiovascular disease.
“The European Commission now reflects the importance of reducing cardiovascular death in these patients by extending the Jardiance label. This makes Jardiance the only diabetes drug which use is not restricted to just lowering blood glucose.
“That means that Jardiance enables physicians to provide their type 2 diabetes patient with established cardiovascular disease with a diabetes medication that can offer a life-saving cardiovascular benefit.”
Approval from the European Commission had been made after findings from EMPA-REG OUTCOM, which compared Jardiance to a placebo, showed the drug to lower the risk of cardiovascular death by 38 per cent.
Jardiance was also shown to significantly reduce the risk of non-fatal heart attacks and non-fatal strokes by 14 per cent when compared to placebo taken by people with type 2 diabetes.
In December 2016 the drug was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.