Merck's SGLT-2 Inhibitor Ertugliflozin Nears Approval in China

By Baihuawen

On July 24, the marketing application for etugliflozin tablets submitted by MSD in China entered the “under review” stage, with approval expected in the near future. If approved, it will become the fourth sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor to be marketed in China.

Ertugliflozin is the fourth SGLT2 inhibitor approved by the FDA, following canagliflozin (Johnson & Johnson), dapagliflozin (AstraZeneca), and empagliflozin (Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly). Developed jointly by Merck Sharp & Dohme and Pfizer, the drug received FDA approval in December 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes under the brand name Steglatro.