Amylin, Eli Lilly See No Rise In Byetta Heart Risk

NEW YORK (AP) — Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co. said Tuesday an analysis of prior study data showed the diabetes drug Byetta did not increase the risk of heart problems.

The review comes as the Food and Drug Administration is scrutinizing safety data on developing diabetes drugs because of past issues with heart-related side effects. Under guidelines issued last year, the agency requires more tests on high-risk patients.

Byetta is already on the market as a twice-daily injection, but Amylin and Eli Lilly are trying to gain approval for their new once-weekly version of the drug, exenatide LAR. It is currently under regulatory review. ...