Patients who suffer from diabetes type 2 may now have another option for their drug treatment. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new compound, known as Adlyxin, for the purpose of controlling blood sugar.
Adlyxin (lixisenatide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which means it works to increase the body's production of GLP-1. This protein is normally released after minutes of eating a meal and stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas. The drug also regulates blood sugar by suppressing secretion of glucagon and slowing gastric emptying.
Currently, type 2 diabetes affects more than 29 million Americans alone. And this number is predicted to increase globally. Thus, in addition to more treatment options for diabetes, it is also crucial to reexamine the ways this disease can be prevented.
