Asthma medicine to treat type 1 diabetes!

Inhaled formoterol may have potential value as a preventive therapy for iatrogenic hypoglycemia, particularly in patients with type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure and frequent episodes of nocturnal hypoglycemia. Data from seven participants with type 1 diabetes matched by age, sex and BMI with seven healthy controls without diabetes were randomly assigned to inhaled formoterol or a placebo. Researchers found that inhaled formoterol decreased the glucose infusion rate needed to maintain plasma glucose at target levels by 45% to 50% (P < .05). Formoterol had no significant effect on glucagon, epinephrine, cortisol or growth hormone release.

Read More

FDA approves Praluent (alirocumab)

FDA has approved the first of a new class of drug- the PCSK9(proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9) Inhibitor, that can sharply lower cholesterol levels. Praluent provides another treatment option for patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia(HeFH) or with known cardiovascular disease who have not been able to lower their LDL cholesterol enough on statins.

Praluent is an antibody that targets a specific protein, called PCSK9, which works by reducing the number of receptors on the liver that remove LDL cholesterol from the blood. By blocking PCSK9’s ability to work, more receptors are available to get rid of LDL cholesterol from the blood and, as a result, lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Read More