In a nutshell
The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a fixed combination of lixisenatide (Lyxumia) and insulin glargine (Lantus) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in older patients. The main finding of the study was that a lixisenatide/insulin glargine (iGlarLixi; Soliqua) combination improved blood glucose control in patients older than 65 years, without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose levels).
Some background
It is estimated that 20% of patients older than 65 years have T2D. Some of these patients need treatment with insulin to control their blood glucose. The main side effects of insulin are weight gain and hypoglycemia. Therefore, it is only used when all other treatment has failed. It is thought that a combination of insulin with another drug may improve blood glucose control.
Lixisenatide is a drug that is used in the treatment of T2D. It works by increasing insulin release from the pancreas. The main side effects of lixisenatide are digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. iGlarLixi is a combination of 100units/mL insulin glargine and a fixed dose of lixisenatide.
Older patients are often excluded from clinical trials due to other medical conditions. Therefore, the safety and effectiveness of iGlarLixi in patients older than 65 with T2D is still under investigation.
Methods & findings
This study included 534 patients were analyzed from two trials. These patients all had T2D and were all over 65 years old. One trial investigated the effect of iGlarLixi treatment in patients who were experienced in using insulin. The other investigated the effect of iGlarLixi treatment in patients who had never used insulin. iGlarLixi treatment was compared to treatment with just insulin or just lixisenatide.
After 30 weeks, patients treated with iGlarLixi had significantly bigger reductions in their HbA1c (blood test measuring average blood sugar level in the past 3 months) than insulin or lixisenatide alone in both trials.
Treatment with iGlarLixi reduced insulin-associated weight gain and lixisenatide-associated digestive side effects. Rates of hypoglycemia were similar between iGlarLixi treatment and treatment with insulin alone.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that a combination of insulin and lixisenatide improved blood glucose control in patients older than 65, without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.
The fine print
This study was funded by Sanofi, the developer of iGlarLixi, insulin glargine and lixisenatide.
Published By :
Journal of Diabetes and its Complications
Date :
Mar 01, 2019
