Novartis Ghana rolls out new diabetes drug
By Phyllis D. Osabutey
Diabetes Mellitus (DM), often referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar , either because the body does not produce enough insulin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_sugar , or because cells do not respond to the insulin produced. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin
This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyuria (increased hunger). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphagia
There is Type 1 diabetes , which results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin, and Type 2 diabetes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 , which results from insulin resistance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_1 , a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin_resistance
All forms of diabetes have been treatable since insulin became available in 1921, and Type 2 diabetes may be controlled with medications. Both type 1 and 2 are chronic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin conditions that usually cannot be cured. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_%28medicine%29
Statistics indicate that as of 1995, there were 135 million DM patients worldwide, 285 million in 2010, 366 million in 2011, and is expected to reach 552 million in 2030, with 80% of DM patients living in low and middle income countries.
Experts say that the greatest number of diabetes patients fall between the ages of 40 - 59 years, whereas about 183 million (50%) patients living with diabetes are undiagnosed, with 4.6 million deaths occurring worldwide in 2011.
In the African region, 14.7 million adults are estimated to have DM, with a regional prevalence of 3.8%, and the highest prevalence of DM is highest in the Island Reunion, with 16% out of a population of 800,000, 12.4% in Seychelles out of a population of 84,000, 11.1% in Botswana out of a population of two million, and 10.6% in Gabon, with a population of 1.4 million.
In the case of populous African countries, Nigeria tops with a total of thee million DM patients, followed by South Africa with 1.9 million, Ethiopia with 1.4 million and Kenya with 769,000.
In Ghana, records indicate that the prevalence rate of DM has been 0.2 - 0.4% between 1958 and 1960, 6.4% in 2002, and 9% in 2008, with the rapid rise attributed to an increasing aging population, increasing unhealthy lifeclasss, poor dieting and dropping levels of physical exercise.
Experts say that drugs available for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes are not able to tackle all the problems, requiring new drugs to combat the problems.
This is why Novartis Ghana has brought in a new drug called 'Galvus', which can be taken as a mono therapy or with Metformin (GalvusMet) for advancement in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
According to the Manager of Novartis Ghana, Mr. Roland Hammond, who was speaking at the launch of the new drug in Accra on Wednesday, Galvus is a new molecule, which Novartis has brought close to the doorsteps of Ghanaians.
He said the drug was for sale at the cost of GH¢1.50p per tablet, to be taken either once or twice a day, depending on doctor's advice, saying, 'You are getting a newer molecule at a competitive price, and that is good enough.'
In terms of side effects, he explained that 'Every drug has a side effect, and the issue is that most patients are currently taking certain class of medicines which tend to give bitter cell extortion, but you will not get this in the newer drug, aside nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea that a few patients may experience.'
'The broader perspective is that patients are safer taking Galvus as compared to the others on the correctional therapy that also have the commonest side effects of weight gain and hypo glycinium, but that you will this not get with Galvus, so it is very safe and very tolerable for diabetic patients,' he emphasised.
He expressed worry that diabetes also affects the kidneys, eyes, heart and many other organs, making it a disturbing disease, which requires a healthy lifeclass, especially in the case of Type 2 diabetes, to manage or prevent it.
He added that Ghana was currently making efforts to check the prevalence of the disease, such that Novartis and other organisations were working in conjunction with key ministries and the Global Fund, in providing certain drugs at a highly subsidised cost.
Additionally, he pointed out that Novartis was currently engaging doctors to educate them on the new drugs, but, 'We have a lot of programmes where we will link up with the Diabetes Society of Ghana, and see how best to educate the public, in terms of lifeclass modification, diets and exercise, so as to reduce the possibility of people getting diabetes.'