19 June 2013 - Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a Japan-based pharmaceutical company, has launched NESINA (alogliptin) and fixed-dose combinations KAZANO (alogliptin and metformin HCl) and OSENI (alogliptin and pioglitazone) by prescription in the United States, it was reported yesterday.

The medications have received approval from the FDA and are indicated as additions to diet and exercise for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

NESINA, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i), is aimed at decreasing the inactivation of incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP). The mix of alogliptin with metformin HCl, KAZANO, is an anti-diabetes medication formulated in a single tablet in addition to single tablet regime OSENI that integrates alogliptin with the thiazolidinedione (TZD) pioglitazone.