The headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seen in Silver Spring, Maryland
The headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is seen in Silver Spring, Maryland. Reuters

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tradjenta (linagliptin) tablets, used with diet and exercise, to improve blood glucose control in adults with Type 2 diabetes.

Tradjenta is marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ridgefield, Conn., and Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly Co.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, affecting between 90 percent and 95 percent of the 24 million people in the United States with diabetes. Tradjenta increases the level of hormones that stimulate the release of insulin after a meal by blocking the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 or DPP-4, which leads to better blood glucose control.

This approval provides another treatment option for the millions of Americans with Type 2 diabetes, said Mary Parks, director of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “It is effective when used alone or when added to existing treatment regimens.”

Tradjenta was demonstrated to be safe and effective in eight double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies involving about 3,800 patients with Type 2 diabetes, the FDA said. The studies showed improvement in blood glucose control compared with placebo.