Liraglutide Combination Effective in Type 2 Diabetes

Dr. Michael Nauck, lead investigator, stated that,  "When available for clinical use…liraglutide will be the first intentionally modified analogue of the gut hormone GLP-1, that can be used to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes without causing hypoglycemia."

Dr. Nauck of Diabeteszentrum Bad Lauterberg, Harz, Germany, and colleagues investigated the efficacy of liraglutide, glimepiride or placebo added to background metformin therapy. The team randomized 1091 subjects to daily subcutaneous injections of liraglutide, 0.6, 1.2 or 1.8 mg, oral glimepiride 4 mg daily, or placebo.

At the end of the 26-week trial, A1C values were significantly reduced in the liraglutide groups compared to placebo. For the 1.8 mg and the 1.2 mg groups, the reduction was 1.0%, and for the 0.6 mg group it was 0.7%. A1C increased by 0.1% in the placebo group.

Body weight decreased by 1.8 to 2.8 kg in the liraglutide group, but increased by 1.0 kg in the glimepiride group.
The incidence of minor hypoglycemia was similar in both liraglutide and placebo groups (about 3%), but was a significantly greater at 17% in the glimepiride group.

Although the glycemic control afforded by liraglutide and glimepiride were comparable, the researchers conclude that "addition of once-daily liraglutide to metformin monotherapy is a viable treatment option."

"At the same time," added Dr. Nauck, "the patient can expect some reduction in appetite and weight loss, in contrast to other diabetes medications that rather promote weight gain and hypoglycemia."

Diabetes Care Jan. 2009;32:84-90.