vildagliptin/metformin (Eucreas)

Following an abbreviated submission

vildagliptin 50mg/metformin hydrochloride 850mg film coated tablets and vildagliptin 50mg/metformin hydrochloride 1000mg film coated tablets (Eucreas® 50mg/850mg and 50mg/1000mg) are accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who are unable to achieve sufficient glycaemic control at their maximally tolerated dose of oral metformin alone or who are already treated with the combination of vildagliptin and metformin as separate tablets.

The addition of vildagliptin to metformin is restricted to use in patients only when the addition of sulphonylureas is not appropriate, and represents an alternative to other agents such as thiazolidinediones. Efficacy, as assessed by measurement of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), is similar to thiazolidinedione drugs added at this stage in therapy. It appears to have minimal effect on body weight.