Vokanamet (Invokana/metformin IR) is Approved in Europe

On April 25, J&J announced that a metformin/Invokana (canagliflozin) fixed-dose combination pill called Vokanamet was approved in Europe. This makes the combined pill the second SGLT-2/metformin fixed-dose combination drug to make it to market, following the approval of AstraZeneca’s Xigduo in Europe. Vokanamet will require a twice-daily dose (since metformin intermediate release is twice-daily), though J&J is currently working on a once-daily Invokana/metformin extended-release pill. Certainly, this would greatly reduce the hassle for patients that may take multiple drugs or use an add-on therapy to metformin to help control their diabetes (you can learn more about type 2 diabetes progression here). Vokanamet is not yet available in the US, but has just recently been resubmitted to the FDA for review. What we are really keen to see is “branded” fixed dose combinations – for example, an SGLT-2 and a DPP4 inhibitor combined in one pill. –NL/KC