For almost 50 years, Glucophage (metformin) along with diet and exercise has helped patients all over the world with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar. The development of Glucophage is the story of one man’s mission to develop a new and safe type 2 diabetes medication.
At the time, Glucophage was a unique discovery and an important advancement for lowering blood sugar in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, because it did not make the body produce more insulin. Instead, it helped the body to respond better to its own insulin, to decrease glucose production by the liver, and to decrease sugar absorption from the intestine. Ultimately, this product, in conjunction with diet and exercise, helped to control a patient’s blood sugar level.
The Development of a New Type 2 Diabetes Medication
French pharmacist Jan Aron introduced Glucophage in 1958, and along with Dr. Jean Sterne, assembled and led a team that developed this important type 2 diabetes medication. Their persistence and faith brought “new hope” to people with type 2 diabetes.
Confident that he developed a product that could help lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes, Aron planned the launch of Glucophage in France at the end of 1958.
Glucophage is Introduced to the World
On December 11, 1958, Glucophage was granted approval by the French Ministry of Health. At the time, the idea of launching a type 2 diabetes product that did not cause the body to make more insulin was a gamble. However, through word-of-mouth among the French medical community, Glucophage began to build a reputation of being a product that could help lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Beginning in February 1960, Aron began sending out sales representatives throughout France to inform doctors about Glucophage. Once the drug was prescribed and used by patients, the representatives returned to discuss the results. The results affirmed that Glucophage is a safe and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the product’s favorable reputation spread rapidly.
Combined Therapy With Sulfonylurea is Confirmed
Two years after the launch of Glucophage, Aron Laboratories confirmed a new finding about the product. Dr. Jean Sterne observed that in patients whose blood sugar was not controlled with Glucophage alone, a combination of Glucophage with a sulfonylurea agent made it possible for some patients to lower their blood sugar levels.
Today, Glucophage is still often used in combination with a sulfonylurea.
The 850 mg Glucophage Tablet is Introduced
In 1969, introduction of an 850 mg tablet made it more convenient to administer higher doses of Glucophage, when needed.
Glucophage is Introduced in America
By the mid-1980s, Glucophage was sold in countries all over the world, except in the United States of America.
A company named LIPHA became responsible for Glucophage in the 1980s, and began the process of obtaining approval in the U.S. for the product.
LIPHA also began a search for an American partner to market Glucophage. Since type 2 diabetes is generally treated in family practice in the United States, LIPHA looked for a partner with a network of representatives all across the country. The choice was Bristol-Myers Squibb. In March 1995, after 8 years of clinical trials and registration procedures, Glucophage was cleared for marketing in the United States.
Although he did not live to see it, Jan Aron’s dream was finally realized. His “little product” had become the most prescribed diabetes pill in the United States.
The Development of a Once-Daily Dose — Glucophage XR
In October 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Glucophage XR, a once-daily dosing formulation of the original Glucophage. View the press release announcing the approval.
Glucophage XR is a registered trademark of LIPHA s.a. Glucophage is a registered trademark of LIPHA s.a. Licensed to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.