Welcome to Medivizor!

You're browsing our sample library. Feel free to continue browsing. You can also sign up for free to receive medical information specific to your situation.

Posted by on Jul 22, 2015 in Diabetes mellitus | 0 comments

In a nutshell

This study compared the effectiveness and safety of treatment with IDegLira, to treatment with either insulin degludec or liraglutide in type 2 diabetes.

Some background

Metformin (Glucophage) is typically the first treatment for type 2 diabetes. Commonly, additional drugs are eventually required. Typically, the first drugs to be added to metformin treatment are drugs such as liraglutide (Victoza), or insulin degludec (Ryzodeg, Xultophy, Tresiba).

The main aim of treatment is to reduce blood glucose levels. This can be monitored by measuring HbA1c (a measurement of average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months). Unfortunately glucose-lowering treatments can produce unwanted side effects, such as hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and weight gain.

IDegLira is a new drug which combines insulin degludec with liraglutide. In comparison to treatment with insulin degludec or liraglutide alone, it has shown greater reductions in HbA1c

Methods & findings

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of IDegLira treatment, to treatment with insulin degludec or liraglutide alone. The results from 2 clinical trials were analyzed.

In both trials, patients being treated with IDegLira had an HbA1c reduction of 1.9%. This reduction in HbA1c was significantly greater than the reduction of HbA1c observed in insulin degludec (1.4%) or liraglutide (1.3%) patients in both trials.

In trial 1, IDegLira patients lost an average of 0.5 kg body weight, in comparison to a weight gain of 1.7 kg by insulin degludec patients and a weight loss of 3.0 kg by liraglutide patients. In trial 2, IDegLira patients lost an average of 2.7 kg body weight, while insulin degludec patients experienced no change.

The occurrence of hypoglycemia was 32% lower for IDegLira patients than insulin degludec patients in trial 1. However no difference was found in trial 2.

The bottom line

The authors concluded that  IDegLira is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 

The fine print

This drug has not been fully tested. Results need to be confirmed by further tests. 

This drug has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This research was funded in part by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturers of IDegLira.

What’s next?

Consult your doctor if you feel you need additional treatment to metformin to control your blood glucose levels.

Published By :

Advances in therapy

Date :

May 12, 2015

Original Title :

Minimizing Hypoglycemia and Weight Gain with Intensive Glucose Control: Potential Benefits of a New Combination Therapy (IDegLira).

click here to get personalized updates