Dive Brief:
- Invokana (canagliflozin) is a sodium glucose co-transporter (SGLT-2) inhibitor.
- It is the 10th type 2 diabetes drug approved by NICE and the second SGLT-2 inhibitor. The other approved drug in that class that is recommended is Forxiga (dapagliflozin).
- NICE cites Invokana's cost-effectiveness and efficacy as the main drivers influencing their approval.
Dive Insight:
Invokana is a once-daily, oral medication that can be used as part of dual therapy with metformin if a sulfonylurea is contraindicated or if hypoglycemia is a concern. It can also be used as part of triple therapy. Invokana can also be used with insulin. Upon approval, NICE noted the need for a wide variety of treatment options for diabetes.