AACE: Liraglutide Shows Positive Results in Head to Head Study

The object of the study was to show timely attainment of target A1c levels improves patient adherence during intensification of type 2 diabetes (T2D) therapy.

In a post-hoc analysis, we analyzed proportions of patients reaching ADA target A1c less than 7.0% at 12, 20, and 26 weeks in two Phase 3b trials: liraglutide (n=233) vs. exenatide twice-daily (BID) (n=231) (LEAD-6) and liraglutide once-daily (OD) (1.2 mg, n=221 and 1.8 mg, n=218) vs. sitagliptin OD (n=219) (LIRA-DPP-4). The time to A1c target was further analyzed by a Cox proportional hazards model with treatment and previous OAD treatment as fixed effects, and baseline A1c as covariate.

'First time to A1c target' data demonstrated that a greater proportion of patients achieved glycemic target with liraglutide than with exenatide BID or sitagliptin. In LEAD-6, the estimated odds ratio was 1.50 [95% CI: 1.17; 1.92]; estimated chance of reaching target during the treatment period is 50% higher with liraglutide 1.8 mg than with exenatide BID (p<0.0068). In LIRA–DPP-4, odds ratios were 1.76 [95% CI: 1.32; 2.34] and 2.13 [95% CI: 1.62; 2.82] for liraglutide 1.2 and 1.8 mg compared with sitagliptin, respectively (p<0.0030; p<0.0001).

According to the results it was demonstrated that the timely achievement of target A1c levels is more likely with liraglutide compared with sitagliptin or exenatide BID.

From the results it was concluded that, treatment adherence with liraglutide may be greater compared with sitagliptin or exenatide BID when used to intensify T2D therapy in patients not at target A1c.

Presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE) May 27, 2012