Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Fortamet

Metformin (Glucophage®, Fortamet®, Riomet®) is an anti-diabetic drug from the biguanide class (its other members are the withdrawn agents phenformin and buformin). more...

Home

Femara

Femring

Filipin

Flagyl

Flarex

Flavoxate

Flecainide

Flexeril

Flomax

Flonase

Flovent

FML

Focalin

Fosamax

Frova

Fuzeon

Uses

The main use for metformin is for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, especially when it is concomitant with obesity and insulin resistance.

It is also being used increasingly in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, two other diseases that feature insulin resistance; these indications are still considered experimental.

Metformin is the only anti-diabetic drug that has been proven to reduce the complications of diabetes, as evidenced in a large study of overweight patients with diabetes (UKPDS 1998).

Metformin is often prescribed to type 2 diabetes patients in combination with rosiglitazone maleate. This drug actively reduces insulin resistance, complementing the action of the metformin. In 2002, the two drugs were combined into a single product, Avandamet, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline. . In 2005, all current stock of Avandamet was seized by the FDA and removed from the market. This was due to problems at the manufacturing plants, not to any medical issues resulting from the drugs use. The drug pair continued to be prescribed separately in the absence of Avandamet itself, which was readily available by the end of that year.

Mechanism of action

Despite its therapeutic benefits, the mechanism of action of metformin is uncertain. Its mode of action appears to be reduction of hepatic gluconeogenesis; the "average" person with type 2 diabetes has three times the normal rate of gluconeogenesis. Metformin treatment reduces this by one third to two thirds. It is has been shown that metformin also decreases intestinal absorption of glucose. A third mechanism is that metformin improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. Zhou et al (2001) showed that metformin stimulates the hepatic enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase.

Side-effects

The most serious side effect of metformin is lactic acidosis. However, this complication is rare if the contra-indications are followed, as it seems limited to those with impaired liver and/or kidney function.

Phenformin was withdrawn because of an increased risk of lactic acidosis (up to 60 cases per million patient-years). In recent studies it was revealed that, as long as it is not prescribed to patients who are at risk, metformin is much safer, and the risk of lactic acidosis approximates that of people who are not on the medication (Salpeter SR et al 2003).

The most common side effect of metformin is gastrointestinal upset. This includes diarrhea, cramps, nausea and vomiting. In a clinical trial of 286 subjects, 53.2% of the 141 who were given Metformin IR (as opposed to placebo) reported diarrhea, and 25.5% reported nausea/vomiting (source: Drug Facts & Comparisons 2005).

Read more at Wikipedia.org

• [List your site here Free!]

Andrx Completes Divestiture of Fortamet and Altoprev to First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corporation
From Business Wire, 3/29/05

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Andrx Corporation (Nasdaq:ADRX) ("Andrx") today announced that it has completed its previously announced sale and licensing of certain rights and assets related to its Fortamet(R) and Altoprev(R) brand pharmaceutical products to First Horizon Pharmaceutical(R) Corporation ("First Horizon").

Andrx received $50 million for Fortamet at the closing. Andrx is entitled to receive up to $35 million in additional proceeds for Altoprev, once it achieves certain defined manufacturing service levels for this product set forth in the agreement. Andrx expects to receive $23.3 million of such amount in connection with the first such delivery scheduled for this week. Andrx will also receive royalties on net sales, as defined, of 8% on Fortamet and 15% on Altoprev.

Thomas P. Rice, Andrx's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are extremely pleased to complete this transaction with First Horizon and are confident that they are the right organization to optimize the value of the Fortamet and Altoprev products for the benefit of both our companies. Our future financial results will not be burdened by the significant operating losses that we experienced in the brand business. This transaction will also better allow us to re-focus our efforts and resources on our core strengths of formulation development of generic controlled-release pharmaceuticals and distribution for the benefit of our shareholders."

About Andrx Corporation:

We are a pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes generic versions of controlled-release, niche and immediate-release pharmaceutical products, including oral contraceptives. We also distribute pharmaceuticals, primarily generics, which have been commercialized by others, as well as our own, primarily to independent pharmacies, pharmacy chains, pharmacy buying groups and physicians' offices.

Forward-looking statements (statements which are not historical facts) in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained herein or which are otherwise made by or on behalf of the Company that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "to," "plan," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the Company's ability to meet the supply and manufacturing requirements of the First Horizon agreement, the Company's dependence on a relatively small number of products, licensing revenues, the timing and outcome of litigation and future product launches, government regulation, competition, and manufacturing results. Andrx Corporation is also subject to other risks detailed herein or detailed from time to time in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Andrx disclaims any responsibility to update the statements contained herein.

This release and additional information about Andrx Corporation are also available on the Internet at: http://www.andrx.com.

Return to Fortamet

Home

Contact

Resources

Exchange Links

ebay