Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly may be requiring pharmaceutical labels to be printed up for its new type 2 diabetes drug tradjenta.

The product has been launched in the US and may require simpler pharma labels than its predecessors and competitors as it has been approved at a one-dosage strength.

Wa'el Hashad, vice-president of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, commented: "With just one dose to remember for all patients, tradjenta is an important new treatment option that could help ... millions."

The product was approved on May 2nd by the Food and Drug Administration and will be used to help those with the condition, although patients also need to exercise and follow a particular diet, according to the firm.

Figures from Diabetes UK showed that the number of people who had been diagnosed with the condition in the UK last year was 2.6 million, up from 1.4 million, which may mean new drugs with pharma labels to treat it are becoming increasingly important.

Denny Bros Ltd, 17 June 2011