Safety, tolerability and efficacy of lixisenatide as monotherapy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An open-label, multicenter study

The Durable Safety and Effectiveness of Lixisenatide in Japanese People with Type 2 Diabetes: The Post-Marketing Surveillance PRANDIAL Study

Introduction

Real-world evidence on lixisenatide in Japanese people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is lacking. Therefore, the 3-year post-marketing PRANDIAL study was conducted to evaluate the safety (primary objective) and effectiveness (secondary objective) of lixisenatide in Japanese people with T2D during routine clinical practice.

Methods

This prospective, observational, multicenter, open-label study was conducted in Japanese individuals with T2D who initiated lixisenatide treatment between March 2014 and June 2017. Using electronic case report forms, investigators collected baseline demographic and clinical information and data on medications, safety and effectiveness up to 3 years after initiation of lixisenatide.

Results

Overall, 3046 participants were analyzed; their mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 58.9 ± 13.1 years, and 53.7% were male. Mean ± SD duration of T2D was 12.8 ± 8.6 years, and baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 8.7% ± 1.7%. Most participants (93.9%) were receiving concomitant antidiabetic medications when they initiated lixisenatide. Median (range) lixisenatide treatment duration was 382 (1–1096) days. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reported in 604 participants (19.8%) and serious ADRs in 22 (0.7%). The most common ADR was nausea (9.0%). Of ADRs of special interest, hypoglycemia occurred in 2.9% of participants, injection site reactions in 0.9%, and hypoglycemic unconsciousness in 0.03%. Baseline characteristics associated with an increased risk of ADRs (p < 0.05) were history of treatment for cardiovascular disease, hepatic dysfunction, and other complications. Effectiveness was analyzed in 2675 participants; HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose, and body weight all decreased significantly at last observation (all p < 0.0001 vs. baseline).

Conclusions

Lixisenatide was well tolerated, with no unexpected ADRs or new safety signals identified, and showed effective glycemic control and weight reduction up to 3 years, supporting the use of lixisenatide as a safe and effective treatment option for T2D in routine clinical practice in Japan.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-022-02121-5.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are antidiabetic drugs that lower blood glucose levels by stimulating the release of insulin and suppressing glucagon, the key hormones involved in controlling blood glucose levels in the body. The selective GLP-1RA lixisenatide was approved for the management of adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japan based on data from randomized clinical trials. However, these studies may not be representative of the safety and effectiveness of the drug when used in routine clinical practice. Therefore, we conducted the 3-year post-marketing PRANDIAL study to assess the safety and effectiveness of lixisenatide in 3046 Japanese individuals with T2D who started the drug between March 2014 and June 2017. Adverse drug reactions (adverse events for which lixisenatide causality could not be excluded) occurred in 19.8% of participants, with the most common adverse drug reaction being nausea. Hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood glucose levels) was reported in 2.9%. Individuals with a history of treatment for cardiovascular disease, hepatic dysfunction, and other complications had an increased risk of adverse drug reactions. Lixisenatide provided significant improvements in blood glucose control, with significant decreases in glycated hemoglobin (a marker of blood glucose control), fasting plasma glucose, and postprandial glucose levels from baseline, as well as significant reductions in body weight. In this real-world post-marketing surveillance study, lixisenatide was well tolerated, raising no new safety concerns, and provided durable effective blood glucose control and weight reduction. These results support the use of lixisenatide in Japanese individuals with T2D in routine clinical practice.

Preference for Oral and Injectable GLP-1 RA Therapy Profiles in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Discrete Choice Experiment

INTRODUCTION

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) approved to date are administered by injection; therefore, patient perceptions of an oral GLP-1 RA are unknown. This discrete choice experiment explored preferences for (unbranded) oral and injectable GLP-1 RA profiles among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

An online survey was designed using literature review and qualitative interview findings, and administered to Japanese patients with T2D and HbA_1c ≥ 7.0% receiving oral antiglycaemic medication (with no experience of injectable antiglycaemic medication). Therapy profiles were created using Japanese head-to-head trial data for orally administered semaglutide (7 mg and 14 mg), injectable dulaglutide (0.75 mg), and injectable liraglutide (0.9 mg). Profiles were not labelled. Choice tasks tested preference between hypothetical profiles, preference between profiles with actual trial data, and willingness to initiate treatment. Relative importance of attributes was determined using conditional logit regression.

RESULTS

A total of 500 respondents were analysed: mean age 61.2 years; 93.8% male; mean HbA_1c 7.6%; 78.2% with HbA_1c ≥ 7.0 to < 8%; 89% with HbA_1c above personal target. Mean BMI was 25.4 kg/m²; 49% had obesity (≥ 25 kg/m²). The treatment attribute with greatest importance was mode and frequency of administration (49.1%), followed by nausea risk (30.8%), weight change (11.3%), and HbA_1c change (8.8%). Oral semaglutide 7 and 14 mg-like profiles were both preferred: the 7 mg-like profile was preferred over dulaglutide (by 91.0% of respondents) and liraglutide (by 89.4%); the 14 mg-like profile was preferred over dulaglutide (by 88.2%) and liraglutide (by 94.4%). Willingness to initiate treatment was also higher for orally administered semaglutide-like profiles: 62.4% with 7 mg and 64.0% with 14 mg, versus 13.6% and 11.0% with injectable GLP-1 RA-like profiles. Subgroup results were generally consistent with the overall sample.

CONCLUSION

Japanese patients with T2D appear to prefer oral GLP-1 RA profiles over injectable GLP-1 RA profiles, and administration appears to be the most important factor in this decision. This highlights the unmet need for an effective and orally administered GLP-1 RA for the treatment of T2D in Japan.

Efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol loxenatide as add-on to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes: A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3b trial

AIM

To assess the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol loxenatide (PEX168), a new glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, as an add-on to metformin therapy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3b trial. After metformin monotherapy (≥1500 mg/day) for 8 weeks or more, patients with uncontrolled T2D (HbA1c of 7.0%-10.5%) from 44 sites were randomized (1:1:1) to metformin + placebo, metformin + PEX168 100 μg, and metformin + PEX168 200 μg. The core treatment period lasted for 24 weeks, followed by a 28-week extension period. The primary endpoint was the change in HbA1c levels at week 24. The main secondary endpoint was the proportion of patients with an HbA1c of less than 7.0% at week 24.

RESULTS

The least-square mean (standard error) change in HbA1c levels was significantly greater (P < .001 for superiority) in the PEX168 groups (-1.16% [0.08%] and -1.14% [0.08%] with 100 and 200 μg, respectively) than in the placebo group (0.35% [0.08%]). The proportion of patients with an HbA1c of less than 7.0% at week 24 was significantly higher in the PEX168 100 μg (37.4%) and PEX168 200 μg (40.6%) groups than in the placebo group (16.8%; both P < .001). The gastrointestinal reactions were mild; the risks of hypoglycaemia and weight gain did not increase. Anti-PEX168 antibodies were noted in less than 2% of patients. No treatment-emergent serious adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSION

The subcutaneous injection of PEX168 once a week can effectively, continuously and safely improve HbA1c levels in patients with T2D when combined with metformin.

Efficacy and safety of insulin glargine/lixisenatide fixed-ratio combination (iGlarLixi 1:1) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic drugs: A randomized, 26-week, open-label, multicentre study: The LixiLan JP-O2 randomized clinical trial

AIMS

To assess efficacy and safety of 26-week treatment with insulin glargine/lixisenatide fixed-ratio combination (iGlarLixi) compared with insulin glargine U100 (iGlar) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This phase 3, multicentre, open-label, 1:1 randomized, parallel-group study compared efficacy of iGlarLixi and iGlar in patients with T2DM, HbA1c of ≥7.5% to ≤9.5% and fasting plasma glucose ≤10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dL). The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c from baseline to week 26.

RESULTS

Patients were randomized to iGlarLixi (n = 260) or iGlar (n = 261) (mean age 59.7 years, baseline BMI 26.04 kg/m² , and HbA1c 8.04% [64.4 mmol/mol]). HbA1c reduction was significantly greater with iGlarLixi (-1.40% [-15.3 mmol/mol]) than with iGlar (-0.76% [-8.3 mmol/mol]). Significantly more iGlarLixi patients reached HbA1c <7% at week 26 (71.5% vs 38.5%, P < .0001), with significantly lower weight gain (LS mean difference -1.06 kg, P < .0001). Documented symptomatic hypoglycemia (plasma glucose ≤3.9 mmol/L [70 mg/dL]) was recorded in 14.2% of patients with iGlarLixi and 12.3% with iGlar. No severe hypoglycemia was reported in either group. Other than the expected gastrointestinal issues associated with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, we found no major difference in the incidence of TEAEs.

CONCLUSIONS

HbA1c reduction was significantly greater with iGlarLixi than with iGlar; significantly more patients achieved HbA1c <7%, with no additional risk of hypoglycemia and without weight gain. iGlarLixi (1:1) provided an effective treatment option for Japanese patients with T2DM inadequately controlled on OADs. Clinical Trial Number: NCT02752828.

A Real-World Observational Study Evaluating the Probability of Glycemic Control with Basal Insulin or Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

The effectiveness of basal insulin (BI) or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in providing glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japanese routine practice is not well known. This real-world observational study evaluated the probability of achieving glycemic control in Japanese patients with T2D uncontrolled by oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) who initiated BI or GLP-1 RA therapy.

METHODS

Patients with T2D aged ≥ 18 years initiating BI or GLP-1 RA therapy following treatment with OADs were selected from real-world data (RWD) retrieved from a large electronic medical record database in Japan, using data from 01 January 2010 to 30 June 2019. Patients were required to have glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7% within 90 days prior to the first prescription of BI or GLP-1 RA. The probability of reaching first HbA1c < 7% was assessed over a 24-month period in cohorts of patients who initiated BI (n = 3477) or GLP-1 RA (n = 780) and in subcohorts by number of OADs at baseline (1, 2, or ≥ 3), HbA1c at baseline (≥ 7 to < 8%, ≥ 8 to < 9%, or ≥ 9%), and age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years).

RESULTS

Mean (standard deviation) baseline HbA1c was 9.4% (1.8%) and 8.8% (1.4%) in patients initiating BI or GLP-1 RA therapy, respectively. The cumulative probability of achieving glycemic control was 50.1% with BI and 60.3% with GLP-1 RA therapy, respectively, at 12 months, and 60.8% and 66.6%, respectively, at 24 months. Quarterly (3-month intervals) conditional probabilities of achieving glycemic control decreased over time and were < 10% after 12 months. Patients with more OADs or higher HbA1c at baseline had a lower probability of achieving glycemic control.

CONCLUSION

Among Japanese patients with T2D who initiated BI or GLP-1 RA therapy after treatment with OADs, the probability of reaching first glycemic control diminished over time. Further therapy intensification is warranted in patients who do not achieve glycemic control within 6-12 months with BI or GLP-1 RA, particularly those with high HbA1c or taking multiple OADs.

Clinical factors associated with the occurrence of nausea and vomiting in type 2 diabetes patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Research has proved a correlation between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and gastrointestinal adverse events. Predominantly, nausea and vomiting are frequent gastrointestinal adverse events that lead to the discontinuation of GLP-1 RAs treatment. The present study aims to investigate clinical factors related to nausea and vomiting, considering diabetic complications and agents affecting the gastrointestinal tract, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with GLP-1 RAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who started receiving GLP-1 RAs therapy. We assessed nausea and vomiting up to 48 weeks after treatment with GLP-1 RAs and used Fine-Gray's proportional hazards model to investigate clinical factors related to nausea and vomiting.

RESULTS

A total of 130 patients were included in this study. Patients with PPIs or H2RAs showed a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting at 48 weeks than those without PPIs or H2RAs. The multivariate analysis revealed that female sex, retinopathy and treatment with PPIs or H2RAs were statistically significant risk factors for nausea and vomiting. Analysis of patients without PPIs or H2RAs showed that female sex and retinopathy were also statistically significant risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed a significant correlation of PPIs or H2RAs, female sex, and diabetic retinopathy with nausea and vomiting in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with GLP-1 RAs. Hence, the occurrence of nausea and vomiting in patients with these factors warrants attention.

Safety, tolerability and efficacy of lixisenatide as monotherapy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An open-label, multicenter study

AIM/INTRODUCTION

To assess the overall safety of lixisenatide monotherapy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, previously treated with ≤1 oral antidiabetic drug, were enrolled in an uncontrolled, open-label, single-arm study over 24 and 52 weeks. Any oral antidiabetic drug treatment was stopped at the start of the 6-week run-in period. From baseline, patients received once-daily lixisenatide monotherapy (10 μg for 1 week, 15 μg for 1 week, 20 μg thereafter) for 52 weeks (first 140 patients enrolled) or 24 weeks (subsequently enrolled patients). The primary end-point was safety over 24 and 52 weeks. Secondary efficacy end-points included absolute change in glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose and bodyweight from baseline.

RESULTS

Of 428 patients screened, 361 and 140 were treated for 24 and 52 weeks, respectively; 88.4 and 90.0% completed treatment. During the 24- and 52-week treatment periods, 268/361 (74.2%) and 117/140 (83.6%) patients, respectively, had treatment-emergent adverse events; the most frequently reported was nausea (33.2 and 31.4%, respectively). The risk of severe hypoglycemia was low; only one case was reported. Lixisenatide treatment resulted in a decrease in mean glycated hemoglobin A1c (-0.98 and -0.86%), fasting plasma glucose (-1.05 and -0.85 mmol/L), and bodyweight (-1.33 and -1.48 kg) for the 24- and 52-week treatment periods, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Once-daily lixisenatide monotherapy was associated with a safety profile in line with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist class, and improved glycemic control in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

iGlarLixi, a titratable once-daily fixed-ratio combination of basal insulin and lixisenatide for intensifying type 2 diabetes management for patients inadequately controlled on basal insulin with or without oral agents

BACKGROUND

Achieving and maintaining glycemic control is important for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), to reduce disease-related complications and mortality; however, about half of US patients fail to meet glycemic targets. iGlarLixi, a titratable fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine 100 U/mL (iGlar) and lixisenatide for once-daily administration, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in adults with T2D inadequately controlled on basal insulin (<60 U daily) or lixisenatide. iGlar and lixisenatide have complementary mechanisms of action, primarily targeting fasting plasma glucose and postprandial plasma glucose, respectively. In the US, iGlarLixi is available in a 3:1 ratio of iGlar and lixisenatide, respectively, across the dosage range of 15-60 U of iGlar and 5-20 µg of lixisenatide.

METHODS

This study identified phase 3 trials which assessed the efficacy and safety of iGlarLixi. Relevant trials were LixiLan-O, which compared iGlarLixi with iGlar or lixisenatide alone in insulin-naïve patients, and LixiLan-L, which compared iGlarLixi with iGlar alone in insulin-experienced patients.

RESULTS

Patients on iGlarLixi experienced greater A1C reduction and were more likely to achieve A1C <7.0% than its comparators. iGlarLixi mitigated the weight gain associated with iGlar without increasing hypoglycemia risk, and resulted in a lower frequency of gastrointestinal adverse events compared with lixisenatide.

CONCLUSIONS

iGlarLixi provides a new approach to therapy intensification in patients with T2D. iGlarLixi showed greater A1C efficacy compared with either iGlar or lixisenatide, mitigating iGlar-associated weight gain, without increasing hypoglycemia risk, and reducing the gastrointestinal side-effects seen with lixisenatide.