Novo Nordisk's Xultophy Demonstrates Superior Efficacy Over Insulin Glargine U100 in Delaying Treatment Intensification for Type 2 Diabetes

June 12, 2019 /BioValleyBIOON/ --DiabetesPharma giant Novo Nordisk recently in San Francisco at the U.S.DiabetesAssociation (ADA 2019) 79th ScientificConferencereleased clinical data from the DUAL VIII study on the glucose-lowering drug Xultophy (degludec/liraglutide, insulin degludec/liraglutide). The study involved patients with type 2 diabetes who were receiving oral therapy but failed to achieve adequate glycemic control.Diabetes(T2D) adult patients, the results showed that compared with insulin glargine U100, Xultophy significantly delayed the time to intensification of therapy. In the study, Xultophy effectively helped patients achieve glycemic targets and demonstrated a favorable safety profile.

Specific data showed that after 104 weeks of treatment, approximately 63% of patients in the Xultophy group did not require additional therapy, compared to approximately 34% in the insulin glargine U100 group. To reflect clinical practice, patients underwent follow-up visits every three months on average; intensification of therapy was indicated when HbA1c levels were ≥7% in two consecutive cycles. Furthermore, after 104 weeks of treatment, the Xultophy group demonstrated a significantly lower insulin requirement (37 units vs. 52 units), a significantly reduced weight gain (+1.7 kg vs. +3.4 kg), and a 56% reduction in the incidence of severe or blood glucose-confirmed symptomatic hypoglycemia.

The study’s principal investigator, BrighamDiabetesVanita Aroda, Head of Clinical Research, stated, “In this study, we were not merely investigating clinical markers (such as HbA1c or effects on body weight), but addressing a key clinical question: once treatment is initiated, how long can each medication help patients achieve and maintain effective glycemic control. These studies demonstrate that in patients whose blood glucose is not adequately controlled with oral therapies, initiating treatment with Xultophy shows the potential to double the time spent in good glycemic control compared with initiating insulin glargine U100 therapy. In clinical practice, this is highly significant, as the longer patients maintain good glycemic control, the lower their risk of exposure to hyperglycemia, and the fewer the treatment escalations or changes required during the course of therapy.”

Xultophy is a once-daily injectable formulation comprising fixed doses of the long-acting basal insulin insulin degludec and the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist liraglutide. Insulin degludec lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake via insulin receptor binding on muscle and fat cells, while simultaneously inhibiting hepatic glucose output; whereas liraglutide stimulates endogenous insulin secretion and reduces glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.

Xultophy is the world’s first fixed-dose combination of a long-acting insulin and a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It received approval from the European Union in September 2014 and from the United States in November 2016. The medication effectively controls blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes while reducing adverse events such as hypoglycemia and weight gain. (Bioon.com)

Original Source:Positive results for Novo’s Xultophy