Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine's 2013 Drug "Brand of the Year" Awarded to Leading Merck Diabetes Drug Januvia

NEW YORK, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical Executive, the monthly magazine and daily online publication of record on analytics, trends and personalities in the biopharmaceutical industry worldwide, announced today the choice for its 2013's drug Brand of the Year: Merck's Januvia [sitagliptin], a first in class dipeptide peptidase-4 inhibitor treatment for adult onset [Type II] diabetes.    

Brand of the Year is an independent, non-promotional designation, selected annually since 1998 by the publication's editorial staff and expert Advisory Board. It seeks to recognize FDA-authorized prescription medicines with a track record of clinical innovation as well as consistent, real-world performance and appeal to patients. It must also demonstrate novelty in the developer's approach to brand-building and market awareness activities.

Januvia was developed and has been marketed by Merck since 2006, and, along with its sister drug Janumet, is now the biggest-selling therapeutic franchise in the company's 122 year history.  "We are pleased to devote our March cover to this important medicine, not only because of its breakthrough status in regulating blood sugar among Type II patients, with fewer side effects, but also for the higher profile it has given to a debilitating chronic condition that contributed to the deaths of more than 4.6 million people worldwide in 2011," said Pharm Exec Editor-in-Chief William Looney.

The story, authored by Senior Editor Ben Comer, features interviews and backgrounders with several top Merck executives, representatives of the original product launch team, patient groups and independent medical experts, all of whom point to the need for further progress by the pharmaceutical industry in combating persistent challenges in managing this growing illness – despite the success of clinically effective medicines like Januvia, half of all diabetes patients still fail to complete the drug therapy recommended by their physician.  

Full text of the story as well as a video display summary is available on the Pharmaceutical Executive web site, at www.pharmexec.com.  Editorial staff are also available for comment and interviews:  please contact Email.

Pharmaceutical Executive probes the interface of business practice and public policy for the global biopharmaceutical, vaccine and medical device industries.  PharmExec's editorial remit covers strategy in the "c-suite" as well as regulatory and legal actions; sales promotion and marketing; R&D; finance; human resources; pricing and market access; and new technology.  Published by Advanstar Communications, PharmExec's editorial content is available in the award-winning monthly print edition as well as in a number of digital platforms.  

Media Contact: 
William Looney 
212-951-6735

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SOURCE Pharmaceutical Executive