Dubai: The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday said rumours being spread on social media about diabetes drug Januvia are totally baseless.
The rumours claimed that Januvia, a drug registered in the UAE for treating diabetes, can eliminate the disease within a year and that it is extracted from the saliva of the monitor lizard.
Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health for Public Health Policy and Licensing and Chairman of the medical licensing committee, said the misleading information about Januvia consisted of claims that scientists used the saliva of the monitor lizard to extract a substance that can cure diabetes, and that anyone who uses the medication for a year will be completely cured. He stressed that these rumours are completely inaccurate.
Al Amiri said that Januvia is a commercial name for the Sitagliprin chemical substance, which is available all around the world and is used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and is non-insulin dependent. He said that diabetes patients should consult their doctor before using any medications that might endanger their lives.
Al Amiri pointed out that people are being misled by false medical information being shared on social media websites, and said that such rumours usually concern matters such as diagnosis of illnesses and prescribing medications.
He urged members of the public not to believe any advertisements on the internet or social media, and to contact the ministry on 800 11111 if they come across any misleading advertisements.
