What Is Acarbose?
Acarbose API is a white to off-white crystalline powder that is very soluble in water and DMSO, with a solubility in water of about 129 grams/liter. It is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in PRECOSE or Glucobay.
It has been made into tablets or capsules to treat type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
Studies have shown it is effective and safe against type 2 diabetes among Asians.
It is a pseudotetrasaccharide and inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase with antihyperglycemic activity.
It inhibits alpha-glucosidase, an enteric enzyme found in the brush border of the small intestines that hydrolyzes oligosaccharides and disaccharides into glucose and other monosaccharides.
Can You Use Acarbose To Lose Weight?
Some diabetic patients lose weight after taking it for a certain period.
International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders has reported that its long-term use resulted in modest weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes.
Some people may consider using it to lose weight. For anyone who has that thought, please stop there.
The most widely used weight-loss ingredient on the market is orlistat.
Anyone interested in losing weight with it must take extra care or consult their doctor.
Acarbose Contra-indications
It is contraindicated for patients hypersensitive to it and those with diabetic ketoacidosis or cirrhosis.
It is also contraindicated for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, partial intestinal obstruction, or those predisposed to intestinal obstruction.
Besides, it is contraindicated in patients with chronic intestinal diseases associated with marked disorders of digestion or absorption, and in those with conditions that may deteriorate due to increased gas formation in the intestine.
Acarbose vs Metformin
Metformin hydrochloride is another widely used common drug for diabetes, along with acarbose.
What are their differences?
In addition to their apparent differences in physical and chemical properties, such as structure, appearance, etc., we also list the main differences between acarbose and metformin in other aspects.
1. Market Share
Metformin is the first-line oral hypoglycemic agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus recommended by international guidelines.
The fact is that metformin is not only indicated for Type 2 diabetes, especially for those people who are overweight, but also used for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. In contrast, people mainly use acarbose for type 2 diabetes.
Metformin was discovered in 1922 and put to test in humans in the 1950s.
It was much earlier introduced as a medication than acarbose, while acarbose was not approved until Aug 16th,1999.
Metformin is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, while acarbose is not enlisted yet.
Metformin is the most widely used medication for diabetes, and it is taken by mouth worldwide, while acarbose is only prevalent in Asia.
2. Raw Material Cost
As for the raw material prices, metformin is way cheaper than acarbose.
Metformin raw material costs less than 10 USD/kg, while the unit price for acarbose is over 700 USD/kg.
3. Dosage Forms
Metformin has more dosage forms than acarbose.
There are pills, extended-release pills, and liquid forms of metformin, while there are only pill forms for acarbose.
Neither of them has injection forms.
4. Safety
As for safety, acarbose is safer and has fewer side effects than metformin.
Acarbose is safe for people over 65.
The higher cost of raw materials is mainly due to the smaller production capacity and more complicated manufacturing process of acarbose.
However, a study conducted by scientists in the USA has shown that the glucose-lowering effects of metformin and acarbose are the same when compared directly. In contrast, metformin is even slightly better when compared indirectly.
This implies that the effect of metformin is at least as good as that of acarbose.
Another study provides evidence that acarbose is similar to metformin in efficacy for Type 2 diabetes and is, therefore, a viable choice for initial therapy in Chinese patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
It is just that acarbose is much safer for elderly Asians.
What Is The HS Code For Acarbose API?
If you need to import it in commercial quantities, you must check its HS code to calculate your import duties and taxes.
Even when you try to buy samples for research, you still need the HS code to check whether you can import them.The
HS code will tell you whether the commodity needs to be inspected by certain authorities.
For its pure powder, it is an organic compound classified as another organic oxygen-containing heterocyclic compound, with an HS Code of 2932999099 in Chinese Customs.
Pharmaceutically, it belongs to the class of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Miglitol, another alpha-glucosidase inhibitor marketed as Gluset, is also a beta-glucosidase inhibitor.
The HS code for buying its formulations, such as tablets or capsules, is 3004909099.
How Much Does Acarbose API Cost?
Our USP/EP standards for commercial quantities (over 100 kg) cost around 760 USD/kg.
The price for 1kg with door-to-door shipment is about 1600 USD if you need it for pharmaceutical compounding.
If you need to buy pure powder for your lab research, trust me, our sample fees are much lower than those of reagent companies.
Please note that we keep it in stock year-round.
Contact us directly for quick orders.
How To Ship And Store Acarbose API?
The pure powder is stable at room temperature and has a minimum shelf life of two years.
So we can ship the powder at normal temperature without a cold chain or low-temperature shipping.
It is also a safe chemical to be shipped by air.
It is non-poisonous, non-flammable, and non-explosive, and courier, sea, or air can ship it.
As for storage, you can store it in airtight drums at ambient temperature.
Please protect it from sunlight, moisture, and heat.
Make sure you seal the inner bags tightly for leftovers.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is intended for business-to-business communication within the pharmaceutical industry. It is not intended as medical advice. The manufacture, import, and use of API must comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the relevant country or region.
This blog post is informational only and does not constitute medical advice.
Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment.
