On June 13, Novo Nordisk announced the results of LIRA-PRIME, a real-world effectiveness study. The trial compared the efficacy and safety of liraglutide 1.8 mg with other oral glucose-lowering drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes whose blood glucose was inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy, conducted in primary healthcare settings. A total of 1,991 adult patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly enrolled from 219 centers across nine countries and received treatment for up to 109 weeks. The study results were presented at the 80th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2020), held recently.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), primary health care is centered on the needs and preferences of individuals, families, and communities for health and well-being, and can meet most people's health needs throughout their lives, including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. Most patients with type 2 diabetes receive treatment in primary care settings; however, most randomized trials are conducted in specialized healthcare institutions. Statistics show that the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of patients with type 2 diabetes receiving primary care are generally higher than those of patients receiving specialized care. Before initiating intensive therapy, many patients with type 2 diabetes on monotherapy face long-term poor glycemic control. Therefore, conducting this study in a primary care setting is of great significance for guiding the clinical application of liraglutide.
In this study, liraglutide helped patients maintain glycemic control at target levels for more than two years, whereas patients treated with oral antidiabetic drugs achieved target glycemic control for only slightly over one year. Compared with other oral medications included in the study, liraglutide significantly extended the duration of target glycemic control by 44 weeks. Furthermore, among patients who discontinued treatment prematurely for any reason (including inadequate glycemic control), the mean treatment duration with liraglutide (more than 1.5 years) was significantly longer than that with other oral antidiabetic drugs included in the study (1 year).
The LIRA-PRIME study randomly enrolled 1,991 adult patients with type 2 diabetes from 219 investigational sites across nine countries to receive treatment for up to 109 weeks. The study met its primary and key secondary endpoints. The results demonstrated that liraglutide effectively prolonged time in glycemic control and delayed treatment discontinuation.
Type 2 diabetes is a complex chronic disease. Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to effectively utilize or secrete sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. Insufficient insulin leads to excessively high blood sugar levels, which can damage vital organs and result in serious health complications. There are approximately 121 million people with diabetes in China; nearly half of them are aware of their condition, about one-third receive treatment, but only a small proportion achieve effective control. Type 2 diabetes constitutes the majority of the diabetic population in China. This underscores the importance of providing effective treatment regimens to help patients with type 2 diabetes maintain glycemic control during long-term management.
In China, community health services are a foundational component in achieving the goal of primary health care for all. This study provides novel insights into the effectiveness of liraglutide in clinical practice and offers valuable data from primary care institutions, helping to guide clinical decision-making for patients with type 2 diabetes who have inadequate glycemic control with metformin monotherapy.