Is weight loss due to dulaglutide treatment dose-dependent in patients with type 2 diabetes?

This study compared the effect of administering 1.5 mg, 3 mg, and 4.5 mg of dulaglutide (Trulicity) on overall bodyweight reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The authors concluded that higher doses of dulaglutide caused more weight loss in these patients.

Abnormal or excessive levels of fat in the body are known as overweight and obesity. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25 are overweight. Those with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 are considered obese. Overweight and obesity increase the risk of developing T2D, cardiovascular disease (CV), and other health complications. Patients with T2D benefit from weight loss through improved insulin resistance and better average blood glucose over 2 to 3 months (HbA1c).

Dulaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) used with diet and exercise to control blood glucose levels. Patients that receive once-weekly, dulaglutide have shown to also have weight reductions. However, whether the dose of dulaglutide influences the amount of weight loss in patients with T2D remains under investigation. 

This study included 1842 patients with T2D inadequately controlled with standard metformin (Glucophage) treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups. Group 1 had 612 patients who received 1.5 mg of dulaglutide once weekly. Group 2 had 616 patients who were given 3 mg of dulaglutide, once weekly. Group 3 had 614 patients who received dulaglutide, once weekly. The study lasted for 52 weeks.

At 36 weeks of dulaglutide administration, patients in groups 2 (4 kg) and 3 (4.7 kg) lost significantly more weight compared to group 1 (3.1.kg). Weight continued to decrease until 52 weeks in all groups. After 52 weeks, patients in group 1 had lost an average of 3.5 kg, those in group 2 had lost an average of 4.3 kg, and those in group 3 had lost an average of 5 kg.

Significantly more patients in groups 2 (17%) and 3 (13%) had lost more than 10% of their body weight after 52 weeks compared to group 1 (10%). For all groups, patients with higher BMI at the beginning had lost more weight after 52 weeks compared to those with a lower BMI. Also, greater weight reductions occurred in patients with lower HbA1c levels at the beginning than in those with higher HbA1c.

The study showed that patients with T2D treated with dulaglutide achieved higher weight reductions with higher doses.

This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of dulaglutide.