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Abstract #290
Findings from a phase 3a clinical trial for semaglutide, an investigational glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, demonstrated that treatment with semaglutide, administered once-weekly, significantly improved glycaemic control compared to insulin glargine U100 in adults with type 2 diabetes. Results from the SUSTAIN 4 trial were presented today at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 25th Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress (AACE) in Orlando, US.[1]
The 30-week SUSTAIN 4 trial showed that, from a mean baseline HbA1c of 8.2%, adults with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin with or without sulfonylurea, achieved statistically significant and superior improvements in HbA1c reductions of 1.2% and 1.6% when treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide, respectively, vs a 0.8% reduction with insulin glargine U100 (p<0.0001 for both).[1] End of trial mean dose of insulin glargine U100 was 29 IU/day.
"Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease and many patients on insulin are still uncontrolled," said Vanita Aroda, SUSTAIN 4 investigator and Physician Investigator at the MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD, US. "The results of SUSTAIN 4 are encouraging, as once-weekly semaglutide demonstrated superior glycaemic control compared to insulin glargine U100 in people that generally had a relatively long duration of type 2 diabetes."
More adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide achieved HbA1c targets compared with insulin glargine U100: HbA1c <7% (57.5% and 73.3% vs 38.1%) and less than or equal to6.5% (37.3% and 54.2% vs 17.5%).[1] Additionally, from a mean baseline body weight of 93.4 kg, adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide achieved statistically significant and superior reductions in mean body weight of 3.5 kg/7.72 lb and 5.2 kg/11.46 lb compared to an increase of 1.2 kg/2.65 lb with insulin glargine U100 (p<0.0001 for both).[1]
The most common adverse events observed for adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide were gastrointestinal (nausea: 21.3% and 22.2% vs insulin glargine U100, 3.6%; diarrhoea: 16.3% and 19.2% vs insulin glargine U100, 4.4%; vomiting: 6.6% and 10.3% vs insulin glargine U100, 3.1%). Rates of serious adverse events were comparable across treatment groups (6.1% and 4.7% vs 5.0%). Fewer adults reported severe or blood glucose-confirmed hypoglycaemia with either semaglutide dose compared to insulin glargine U100 (4.4% and 5.6% vs 10.6%). The proportion of adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide discontinuing treatment due to adverse events was 5.5% and 7.5% vs 1.1% for insulin glargine U100.[1]
About semaglutide
Semaglutide is an investigational analogue of native human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that stimulates insulin and suppresses glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, as well as decreases appetite and food intake.[2] Semaglutide administered subcutaneously once-weekly is in phase 3 development for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.
About SUSTAIN 4
SUSTAIN 4 was a randomised, open-label, multicentre, multinational 30-week trial investigating the safety and efficacy of semaglutide, administered once-weekly, vs once-daily insulin glargine (U100/mL), both added on to metformin with or without sulfonylurea in 1,089 adults with an overall type 2 diabetes duration of 8.6 years and who had not previously received any insulin-based therapies. Secondary endpoints included change in body weight from baseline after 30 weeks of treatment. The trial was conducted in Argentina, Croatia, France, Germany, India, Macedonia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, UK and the US.
About the SUSTAIN clinical programme
SUSTAIN (Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes) is a clinical programme for semaglutide, administered once-weekly, that comprises six phase 3a global clinical trials encompassing more than 7,000 people with type 2 diabetes as well as two Japanese trials encompassing around 1,000 people with type 2 diabetes.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious chronic conditions: haemophilia, growth disorders and obesity. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 41,600 people in 75 countries and markets its products in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit http://www.novonordisk.com, Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/novonordisk ], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/novonordisk ], LinkedIn [http://www.linkedin.com/company/novo-nordisk ], YouTube [http://www.Youtube.com/novonordisk ]
Further information
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References
1. Aroda VR, Bain SC, Cariou B, et al. Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide vs once-daily insulin glargine in insulin-naive subjects with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 4). Abstract number 290. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 25th Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress (AACE), Orlando, FL, US; 25-29 May 2016.
2. Nauck MA, Petrie JR, Sesti G, et al. A phase 2, randomized, dose-finding study of the novel once-weekly human GLP-1 analog, semaglutide, compared with placebo and open-label liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2015; 39:231-241.
Source: Novo Nordisk
New research shows healthcare services and public health strategies aimed at reducing the burden of type 2 diabetes may prove ineffective, unless they address social and cultural factors.[1] Researchers linked factors such as food traditions and traditional gender roles to increasing vulnerability to diabetes in cities[1], where three-quarters of people with the disease are set to live by 2045.[3] The findings from the Cities Changing Diabetes research were presented at the 54th Annual Meeting