An academic meeting was held here on Friday to launch a new anti-diabetic drug, Empagliflozin.
The event was chaired by MKCG Medical College Hospital’s General Medicine Department head Prof lalit Kumar Meher, wherein consultant Endocrinologist from Diabetes and Endocare Clinic, Brahmapur Sunil Kumar Kota was the chief speaker. Dr Kota highlighted the usage pattern, efficacy and safety profile of the drug to the audience.
SGlT2 receptors located in the kidney tubules help in entry of glucose from urine into blood. Empagliflozin blocks these SGlT2 receptors and prevents absorption of glucose into blood leading to excretion of around 80 grams of glucose through urine per day. It reduces blood glucose even in long standing diabetes, where other drugs tend to fail. It has additional advantages of reduction of body weight, blood pressure and cholesterol and avoidance of hypoglycaemia.
A recent study has demonstrated a significant reduction of cardiovascular complications and mortality in patients taking Empagliflozin in addition to improvement in kidney health and reduction of insulin requirement for diabetes treatment. Empagliflozin was launched in America in May 2014 followed by in India in November, 2015.
A total of around 50 doctors from MKCG and private practitioners of Brahmapur attended the session. Renowned doctors like Prof PC Sahoo and Prof Prabin Rath also graced the occasion. Dr Sunil Kota attended a question- answer session with the audience.
Notably, seven crore Indian people are suffering from diabetes. The existing set of oral anti-diabetic drugs help control sugar level in the initial phase. To bring down the rising blood sugars, several new drugs are being scientifically developed.