The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted saxagliptin (Onglyza®) for restricted use within NHS Scotland in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus as add-on combination therapy with metformin, when metformin alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control.

Saxagliptin is restricted for use when the addition of sulphonylureas is not appropriate, and represents an alternative to other agents such as thiazolidinediones.

The manufacturer’s submission related only to the use of saxagliptin in combination with metformin, and the SMC cannot therefore recommend the use of saxagliptin in combination with sulphonylureas or thiazolidinediones.