INVOKANA® (canagliflozin) Significantly Reduces the Risk of Heart Failure-Related Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Patients at Risk for or With a History of Cardiovascular Disease
ORLANDO, Fla., March 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson today announced results of a new analysis showing that INVOKANA® (canagliflozin) significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death or hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at high CV risk. This exploratory analysis from the CANVAS Program was featured as a late-breaking oral presentation at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session (abstract #407-10) and was simultaneously published in Circulation.
"This new analysis from the CANVAS Program demonstrates that canagliflozin reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure," said Javed Butler, M.D., M.P.H., Chairman of Medicine at University of Mississippi. "These results add to the body of evidence suggesting that canagliflozin has clinical benefit in patients with type 2 diabetes who are also at risk for some of the major cardiovascular complications."
The results showed canagliflozin was associated with a significant reduction in risk of CV death or HHF by 22 percent (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.91), fatal or hospitalized heart failure by 30 percent (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.89); and HHF alone by 33 percent (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.87). The benefit of reduced risk of CV death or HHF was 39 percent (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.80) greater in patients with a prior history of heart failure, compared to the 13 percent (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.06) without heart failure, at baseline. Rates of heart failure varied according to baseline characteristics, such as age, renal function and other disease history characteristics, but effects of canagliflozin on risk of CV death or HHF were mostly comparable across numerous subgroups.
In addition, the data confirmed that proportional effects of canagliflozin compared to placebo were comparable across a broad population of patients with T2D at high CV risk. Specifically, patients from the CANVAS Program included those with and without heart failure at baseline for major adverse CV events (MACE), CV death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, all-cause mortality, and serious decline in kidney function.
On October 2, 2017, Janssen submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking a new indication to reduce the risk of MACE based on the CANVAS Program.
"Hospitalization for heart failure and, even worse, cardiovascular death are on the minds of many doctors and patients who manage type 2 diabetes," said Robert Cuddihy, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs, Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "This new analysis from the landmark CANVAS Program helps reinforce important additional clinical benefits of canagliflozin."
The CANVAS Program is the longest, largest and broadest completed CV outcomes program of any sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor to date and was the first to assess the efficacy, safety, and durability of canagliflozin in more than 10,000 patients with T2D who had either a prior history of CV disease or at least two CV risk factors. Data from the integrated analysis of the CANVAS and CANVAS-R trials were presented last year in a special symposium at the American Diabetes Association 77th Scientific Sessions on June 12, 2017 in San Diego, CA, and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine. No new adverse events were observed during this additional analysis beyond those previously reported from the CANVAS Program.
WHAT IS INVOKANA®?
INVOKANA® is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. INVOKANA® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in blood or urine). It is not known if INVOKANA® is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
INVOKANA® can cause important side effects, including:
- Amputations. INVOKANA® may increase your risk of lower-limb amputations. Amputations mainly involve removal of the toe or part of the foot; however, amputations involving the leg, below and above the knee, have also occurred. Some people had more than one amputation, some on both sides of the body. You may be at a higher risk of lower-limb amputation if you: have a history of amputation, have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease, have had blocked or narrowed blood vessels (usually in leg), have damage to the nerves (neuropathy) in the leg, or have had diabetic foot ulcers or sores. Call your doctor right away if you have new pain or tenderness, any sores, ulcers, or infections in your leg or foot. Your doctor may decide to stop your INVOKANA®. Talk to your doctor about proper foot care
- Dehydration. INVOKANA® can cause some people to become dehydrated (the loss of too much body water), which may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, lightheaded, or weak, especially when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). You may be at higher risk of dehydration if you have low blood pressure, take medicines to lower your blood pressure (including diuretics [water pills]), are on a low sodium (salt) diet, have kidney problems, or are 65 years of age or older
- Vaginal yeast infection. Women who take INVOKANA® may get vaginal yeast infections. Symptoms include: vaginal odor, white or yellowish vaginal discharge (discharge may be lumpy or look like cottage cheese), or vaginal itching
- Yeast infection of the penis (balanitis or balanoposthitis). Men who take INVOKANA® may get a yeast infection of the skin around the penis. Symptoms include: redness, itching, or swelling of the penis; rash of the penis; foul-smelling discharge from the penis; or pain in the skin around penis
Talk to your doctor about what to do if you get symptoms of a yeast infection of the vagina or penis.
Do not take INVOKANA® if you:
- are allergic to canagliflozin or any of the ingredients in INVOKANA®. Symptoms of allergic reaction may include: rash; raised red patches on your skin (hives); or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
- have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis
Before you take INVOKANA®, tell your doctor if you have a history of amputation; heart disease or are at risk for heart disease; blocked or narrowed blood vessels (usually in leg); damage to the nerves (neuropathy) of your leg; diabetic foot ulcers or sores; kidney problems; liver problems; history of urinary tract infections or problems with urination; are on a low sodium (salt) diet; are going to have surgery; are eating less due to illness, surgery, or change in diet; pancreas problems; drink alcohol very often (or drink a lot of alcohol in short-term); ever had an allergic reaction to INVOKANA®; or have other medical conditions.
Tell your doctor if you are or plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed. INVOKANA® may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking INVOKANA®, tell your doctor right away. INVOKANA® may pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Do not breastfeed while taking INVOKANA®.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take diuretics (water pills), rifampin (used to treat or prevent tuberculosis), phenytoin or phenobarbital (used to control seizures), ritonavir (Norvir®, Kaletra® - used to treat HIV infection), or digoxin (Lanoxin® - used to treat heart problems).
Possible Side Effects of INVOKANA®
INVOKANA® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine). Ketoacidosis has happened in people who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, during treatment with INVOKANA®. Ketoacidosis is a serious condition, which may need to be treated in a hospital. Ketoacidosis may lead to death. Ketoacidosis can happen with INVOKANA® even if your blood sugar is less than 250 mg/dL. Stop taking INVOKANA® and call your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, tiredness, or trouble breathing
- Kidney problems. Sudden kidney injury has happened to people taking INVOKANA®. Talk to your doctor right away if you: 1) reduce the amount of food or liquid you drink, if you are sick, or cannot eat or 2) you start to lose liquids from your body from vomiting, diarrhea, or being in the sun too long
- A high amount of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia)
- Serious Urinary Tract Infections: may lead to hospitalization and have happened in people taking INVOKANA®. Tell your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of a urinary tract infection such as: burning feeling while urinating, need to urinate often or right away, pain in the lower part of your stomach (pelvis), or blood in the urine. Some people may also have high fever, back pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you take INVOKANA® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin, your risk of getting low blood sugar is higher. The dose of your sulfonylurea medicine or insulin may need to be lowered while you take INVOKANA®
Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, sweating, shaking, or feeling jittery.
Serious allergic reaction. If you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, stop taking INVOKANA® and call your doctor right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Broken Bones (fractures): Bone fractures have been seen in patients taking INVOKANA®. Talk to your doctor about factors that may increase your risk of bone fracture.
The most common side effects of INVOKANA® include: vaginal yeast infections and yeast infections of the penis; changes in urination, including urgent need to urinate more often, in larger amounts, or at night.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC at 1-800-526-7736.
Please see full Product Information, including Boxed Warning, and Medication Guide for INVOKANA®.
Canagliflozin is licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.
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