Although exenatide has found to have same pharmacological actions as the GLP1 liraglutide, its weekly doses fail to reduce levels of HbA1c as much as the later. Read on to know more.

     Team@CMHF

A trial failed to prove that once-weekly injections of exenatide (Bydureon) were equal to daily injections of liraglutide (Victoza) in reducing glycosylated hemoglobin A1c in type 2 diabetes patients, researchers reported here.

In the head-to-head study, the mean reduction in HbA1c for patients on the more convenient dosing schedule of exenatide was 1.26%, compared with a 1.48% reduction with liraglutide (P<0.05),

Despite failing to prove either noninferiority of exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonist, or superiority of the once-a-week dosing, Buse did find some silver linings in the study, which was sponsored by exenatide developers Eli Lilly, Alkermes, and Amylin Pharmaceuticals

“Both exenatide once-weekly and liraglutide once-daily provided effective glucose control, modest weight loss, and infrequent hypoglycemic episodes in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes,” Buse said in his oral presentation. “At doses tested, exenatide once weekly had a moderately smaller reduction in HbA1c and weight than liraglutide once daily at the maximum dose, with less frequent gastrointestinal adverse events.”

In the study reported by Buse, the patients were recruited from 19 countries. Their average age was 57 years, about 55% of the cohort were men, and the duration of diabetes since diagnosis in the group was more than eight years.

In addition to the patients’ baseline medication of oral anti-diabetic drugs, including metformin, sulfonylureas or pioglitazone (Actos), patients were randomized in an open-label format to 2 mg exenatide once weekly, and a standard dose titration of liraglutide beginning at 0.6 mg and ending at 1.8 mg daily. The 10-week safety follow-up was performed after the 26-week study.

In March, the top-line results of the study – noting that the primary endpoint had not been achieved – were released by the study sponsors.

Ref: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/EASD/28537?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&eun=g333280d0r&userid=333280&email=drchasrani@cmhs.in