Giant drug manufacturer Roche holdings has claimed that its once a week experimental drug, which is currently still under development, definitely works better for treatment of type 2 diabetes as compared to the currently popular drug Januvia, manufactured and marketed by Merck.

In the Phase III of the clinical trials, the Basel based drug firm is currently comparing its own drug, Taspoglutid, to Januvia and a placebo, to find out which works better for type 2, and has claimed that its own drug met primary endpoints and was "well-tolerated" by patients placed on it.

"We are very confident in the unique mechanism of Januvia, and in its proven efficacy and side effect profile, and the benefits it offers to appropriate patient", Merck spokesman Pam Eisele said, while asserting that the company is eagerly looking forward to Roche's complete study.

Analysts are expecting the full study to be made available at the American Diabetes Association's scientific session, scheduled for June 2010.

Roche, however, did not comment on when the study and its details will be made available.