Colesevelam HCl and Sulfonylurea-based Drug Combo: Hitting Cholesterol and Glucose Levels at Once?

Filed in archive Research , Treatment on July 9, 2007

The compound colesevelam HCl when combined with Sulfonylurea-based therapy in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes can significantly reduce glucose levels versus placebo.

Such were the findings of clinical trials conducted by a research team from Tulane University:

"People with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol face a number of challenges in keeping their glucose levels and cholesterol in check. This study demonstrated the potential to improve two important metabolic parameters with one drug."

The FDA is now assessing the application for the commercial production and sale of the drug. I wonder though which big pharma company will work on this?

Anyway, Colesevelam HCl (popular brand: Welchol) is a bad cholesterol-lowering drug while sulfonylureas are antidiabetic agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that works by making the pancreas produce more insulin.

Let's just hope that once combined in a single pill, the two ingredients will work as effectively as they do when in two separate pills.

Find more details from the full report.