Proportion of participants with type 2 diabetes achieving a metabolic composite endpoint with once-weekly semaglutide treatment versus comparators: Post hoc pooled analysis from SUSTAIN 1-5, 7-10 and SUSTAIN China

AIM

To compare the proportion of participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with once-weekly (OW) subcutaneous (SC) semaglutide versus comparators who achieved a composite metabolic endpoint.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SUSTAIN 1-5, 7-10 and SUSTAIN China trial data were pooled. Participants with T2D (aged ≥18 years) and glycated haemoglobin ≥7.0% (≥53 mmol/mol) who had been randomized to OW SC semaglutide (0.5 or 1.0 mg) or comparator in addition to background medication. Using patient-level data pooled by treatment, proportions of participants achieving the metabolic composite endpoint, defined as glycated haemoglobin <7% (<53 mmol/mol), blood pressure <140/90 mmHg and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <130 mg/dl (<3.37 mmol/L), were evaluated following baseline adjustments. Endpoints were analysed per trial using a binomial logistic regression model with treatment, region/country and stratification factor as fixed effects and baseline value as covariate. Pooled analysis used logistic regression with treatment and trial as fixed effects and baseline value as covariate.

RESULTS

This post hoc analysis included data from 7633 participants across 10 trials. The proportion of participants who achieved the metabolic composite endpoint was significantly higher with OW SC semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg versus comparators (23.7% and 32.0% vs. 11.5%, respectively; p < .0001). Likewise, when the OW SC semaglutide doses were pooled, significantly higher proportions of patients receiving semaglutide achieved the composite metabolic endpoint versus comparators (29.1% vs. 11.4%, respectively; p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with OW SC semaglutide versus comparators was associated with increased proportions of participants with T2D meeting the composite metabolic endpoint.

Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide monotherapy versus placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 1): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multinational, multicentre phase 3a trial

BACKGROUND

Despite a broad range of pharmacological options for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, optimum glycaemic control remains challenging for many patients and new therapies are necessary. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue in phase 3 development for type 2 diabetes. We assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of semaglutide monotherapy, compared with placebo, in treatment-naive patients with type 2 diabetes who had insufficient glycaemic control with diet and exercise alone.

METHODS

We did a double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, international, placebo-controlled phase 3a trial (SUSTAIN 1) at 72 sites in Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, UK, and USA (including hospitals, clinical research units, and private offices). Eligible participants were treatment-naive individuals aged 18 years or older with type 2 diabetes treated with only diet and exercise alone for at least 30 days before screening, with a baseline HbA_1c of 7·0%-10·0% (53-86 mmol/mol). We randomly assigned participants (2:2:1:1) to either once-weekly subcutaneously injected semaglutide (0·5 mg or 1·0 mg), or volume-matched placebo (0·5 mg or 1·0 mg), for 30 weeks via prefilled PDS290 pen-injectors. Participants did their own injections and were encouraged to administer them on the same day of each week in the same area of their body; the time of day and proximity of meal times was not specified. We did the randomisation with an interactive voice or web response system. Investigators, participants, and the funder of the study remained masked throughout the trial. The primary endpoint was the change in mean HbA_1c from baseline to week 30, and the confirmatory secondary endpoint was the change in mean bodyweight from baseline to week 30. We assessed efficacy and safety in the modified intention-to-treat population (ie, all participants who were exposed to at least one dose of study drug); both placebo groups were pooled for assessment. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02054897.

FINDINGS

Between February 3, 2014, and August 21, 2014, we randomly assigned 388 participants to treatment; 387 received at least one dose of study medication (128 0·5 mg semaglutide, 130 1·0 mg semaglutide, 129 placebo). 17 (13%) of those assigned to 0·5 mg semaglutide, 16 (12%) assigned to 1·0 mg semaglutide, and 14 (11%) assigned to placebo discontinued treatment; the main reason for discontinuation was gastrointestinal adverse events such as nausea. Mean baseline HbA_1c was 8·05% (SD 0·85); at week 30, HbA_1c significantly decreased by 1·45% (95% CI -1·65 to -1·26) with 0·5 mg semaglutide (estimated treatment difference vs placebo -1·43%, 95% CI -1·71 to -1·15; p<0·0001), significantly decreased by 1·55% (-1·74 to -1·36) with 1·0 mg semaglutide (estimated treatment difference vs placebo -1·53%, -1·81 to -1·25; p<0·0001), and non-significantly decreased by 0·02% (-0·23 to 0·18) with placebo. Mean baseline bodyweight was 91·93 kg (SD 23·83); at week 30, bodyweight significantly decreased by 3·73 kg (95% CI -4·54 to -2·91) with 0·5 mg semaglutide (estimated treatment difference vs placebo -2·75 kg, 95% CI -3·92 to -1·58; p<0·0001), significantly decreased by 4·53 kg (-5·34 to -3·72) with 1·0 mg semaglutide (estimated treatment difference vs placebo -3·56 kg, -4·74 to -2·38; p<0·0001), and non-significantly decreased by 0·98 kg (-1·82 to -0·13) with placebo. No deaths were reported in any of the study groups and most reported adverse events were of mild or moderate severity. The most frequently reported adverse events in both semaglutide groups were gastrointestinal in nature: nausea was reported in 26 (20%) who received 0·5 mg semaglutide, 31 (24%) who received 1·0 mg semaglutide, and 10 (8%) who received placebo, and diarrhoea was reported in 16 (13%) who received 0·5 mg semaglutide, 14 (11%) who received 1·0 mg semaglutide, and three (2%) who received placebo.

INTERPRETATION

Semaglutide significantly improved HbA_1c and bodyweight in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with placebo, and showed a similar safety profile to currently available GLP-1 receptor agonists, representing a potential treatment option for such patients.

FUNDING

Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark.

The dynamic relationship between current and previous severe hypoglycemic events: a lagged dependent variable analysis among patients with type 2 diabetes who have initiated basal insulin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Past studies have found episodes of severe hypoglycemia (SH) to be serially dependent. Those studies, however, only considered the impact of a single (index) event on future risk; few have analyzed SH risk as it evolves over time in the presence (or absence) of continuing events. The objective of this study was to determine the dynamic risks of SH events conditional on preceding SH events among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who have initiated basal insulin.

METHODS

We used an electronic health records database from the United States that included encounter and laboratory data and clinical notes on T2D patients who initiated basal insulin therapy between 2008 and 2011 and to identify SH events. We used a repeated-measures lagged dependent variable logistic regression model to estimate the impact of SH in one quarter on the risk of SH in the next quarter.

RESULTS

We identified 7235 patients with T2D who initiated basal insulin. Patients who experienced ≥1 SH event during any quarter were more likely to have ≥1 SH event during the subsequent quarter than those who did not (predicted probabilities of 7.4% and 1.0%, respectively; p < 0.01). This effect was stronger than the impact of history of SH before starting basal insulin (predicted probabilities of 1.0% and 3.2%, respectively; p < 0.01) or of a history of SH during the titration period (predicted probabilities of 1.1% and 2.8%, respectively; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of experiencing a SH event is highly dependent on a patient's immediate history of SH events and therefore the value of preventing one SH event may be substantial. These results can inform patient care by providing clinicians with dynamic data on a patient's risk of SH, which in turn can facilitate appropriate adjustment of the risk-benefit ratio for individualized patient care. These results should, however, be interpreted in light of the key limitations of our study: not all SH events may have been captured or coded in the database, data on filled prescriptions were not available, we were unable to adjust for basal insulin dose, and the post-titration follow-up period could have divided into time units other than quarters (3 month blocks) resulting in potentially different conclusions. Further real-world studies on how to best to identify patients at risk for SH events based on the presence of recent SH events, rather than on more distant 'prior' events, can help healthcare providers to better manage patients starting basal insulin.

New developments in insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes

Insulin has classically been considered a treatment of last resort for individuals with type 2 diabetes, delayed until all other efforts by the patient and healthcare provider have failed. Recent treatment guidelines recommend the use of insulin, in particular basal insulin, as part of a treatment regimen earlier in the disease process. Many patients are reticent about initiating insulin, so therapies that allow insulin treatment to be more tailored to individual needs are likely to result in greater acceptance and patient adherence with therapy. To meet this need, a range of insulin products are in development that aim to increase absorption rate or prolong the duration of action, reduce peak variability and weight gain associated with insulin treatment, and offer alternative delivery methods. This review describes insulin products in clinical development, new combination therapies, and new devices for insulin delivery.

Elderly patients with diabetes experience a lower rate of nocturnal hypoglycaemia with insulin degludec than with insulin glargine: a meta-analysis of phase IIIa trials

Background and Objective

Elderly patients with diabetes are more vulnerable to the occurrence and effects of hypoglycaemia; therefore, treatments with low risk of hypoglycaemia are preferred in this population. This study aimed to compare hypoglycaemia rates between insulin degludec (IDeg) and insulin glargine (IGlar) in elderly patients.

Methods

Hypoglycaemia data from patients ≥65 years of age with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 (T2DM) diabetes from seven randomised, treat-to-target phase IIIa trials were used to compare IDeg and IGlar in a pre-planned meta-analysis. Overall, 917/4345 (21 %) randomised patients in the seven trials were elderly (634 IDeg, 283 IGlar). Overall confirmed hypoglycaemia was defined as <3.1 mmol/L or severe hypoglycaemia (symptoms requiring external assistance). Nocturnal hypoglycaemia included confirmed episodes from 0001 to 0559 hours (inclusive). Treatment comparisons of hypoglycaemia in T1DM patients were not performed due to low numbers of elderly patients with T1DM randomised (43 IDeg, 18 IGlar); statistical comparisons were also not made for severe hypoglycaemia due to the low number of events.

Results

In elderly patients with T2DM, the rate of overall confirmed hypoglycaemia was significantly lower with IDeg than IGlar [estimated rate ratio (ERR) 0.76 (0.61; 0.95)_{95 % CI}]; nocturnal confirmed hypoglycaemia was also significantly lower with IDeg [ERR 0.64 (0.43; 0.95)_95 % CI]. Confirmed hypoglycaemia occurred in the majority of T1DM patients, whereas severe episodes occurred infrequently and at similar rates in both treatment groups in T1DM and T2DM.

Conclusion

Results of this pre-planned meta-analysis in elderly patients with diabetes demonstrate a significant reduction in hypoglycaemic events with IDeg relative to IGlar.

Identifying and meeting the challenges of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic illness that requires clinical recognition and treatment of the dual pathophysiologic entities of altered glycemic control and insulin resistance to reduce the risk of long-term micro- and macrovascular complications. Although insulin is one of the most effective and widely used therapeutic options in the management of diabetes, it is used by less than one-half of patients for whom it is recommended. Clinician-, patient-, and health care system-related challenges present numerous obstacles to insulin use in T2DM. Clinicians must remain informed about new insulin products, emerging technologies, and treatment options that have the potential to improve adherence to insulin therapy while optimizing glycemic control and mitigating the risks of therapy. Patient-related challenges may be overcome by actively listening to the patient’s fears and concerns regarding insulin therapy and by educating patients about the importance, rationale, and evolving role of insulin in individualized self-treatment regimens. Enlisting the services of Certified Diabetes Educators and office personnel can help in addressing patient-related challenges. Self-management of diabetes requires improved patient awareness regarding the importance of lifestyle modifications, self-monitoring, and/or continuous glucose monitoring, improved methods of insulin delivery (eg, insulin pens), and the enhanced convenience and safety provided by insulin analogs. Health care system-related challenges may be improved through control of the rising cost of insulin therapy while making it available to patients. To increase the success rate of treatment of T2DM, the 2012 position statement from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes focused on individualized patient care and provided clinicians with general treatment goals, implementation strategies, and tools to evaluate the quality of care.

Role of proximal gut exclusion from food on glucose homeostasis in patients with Type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To report Type 2 diabetes-related outcomes after the implantation of a duodenal-jejunal bypass liner device and to investigate the role of proximal gut exclusion from food in glucose homeostasis using the model of this device.

METHODS

Sixteen patients with Type 2 diabetes and BMI <36 kg/m(2) were evaluated before and 1, 12 and 52 weeks after duodenal-jejunal bypass liner implantation and 26 weeks after explantation. Mixed-meal tolerance tests were conducted over a period of 120 min and glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were measured. The Matsuda index and the homeostatic model of assessment of insulin resistance were used for the estimation of insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. The insulin secretion rate was calculated using deconvolution of C-peptide levels.

RESULTS

Body weight decreased by 1.3 kg after 1 week and by 2.4 kg after 52 weeks (P < 0.001). One year after duodenal-jejunal bypass liner implantation, the mean (sem) HbA(1c) level decreased from 71.3 (2.4) mmol/mol (8.6[0.2]%) to 58.1 (4.4) mmol/mol (7.5 [0.4]%) and mean (sem) fasting glucose levels decreased from 203.3 (13.5) mg/dl to 155.1 (13.1) mg/dl (both P < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity improved by >50% as early as 1 week after implantation as measured by the Matsuda index and the homeostatic model of assessment of insulin resistance (P < 0.001), but there was a trend towards deterioration in all the above-mentioned variables 26 weeks after explantation. Fasting insulin levels, insulin area under the curve, fasting C-peptide, C-peptide area under the curve, fasting insulin and total insulin secretion rates did not change during the duodenal-jejunal bypass liner implantation period or after explantation.

CONCLUSIONS

The duodenal-jejunal bypass liner improves glycaemia in overweight and obese patients with Type 2 diabetes by rapidly improving insulin sensitivity. A reduction in hepatic glucose output is the most likely explanation for this improvement.

A pilot study of the duodenal-jejunal bypass liner in low body mass index type 2 diabetes

CONTEXT

The duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL) is a device that mimics the intestinal portion of gastric bypass surgery and has been shown to improve glucose metabolism rapidly in obese subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety of the DJBL and to evaluate its potential to affect glycemic control beneficially in subjects with T2DM who were not morbidly obese.

PATIENTS AND DESIGN

Adult men and women with T2DM of ≤ 10 years' duration with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥ 7.5% and ≤ 10% and having a body mass index ≥ 26 to ≤ 50 kg/m(2) were enrolled in this prospective, 52-week, single-center, open-label clinical study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Adverse events and changes in body weight, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, and HbA1c levels.

RESULTS

Sixteen of 20 subjects implanted with the DJBL completed the 1-year study (mean body mass index = 30.0 ± 3.6, mean ± SD). Gastrointestinal disorders were reported by 13 subjects, and metabolic or nutritional disorders occurred in 14 subjects. FPG levels dropped from 207 ± 61 mg/dL at baseline to 139 ± 37 mg/dL at 1 week and remained low throughout the study. Mean body weight also declined, but the change in body weight was not significantly associated with change in FPG at 52 weeks. HbA1c declined from 8.7 ± 0.9% at baseline to 7.5 ± 1.6% at week 52.

CONCLUSIONS

The improvements in glycemic status were observed at 1 year in moderately obese subjects with T2DM, suggesting that the DJBL may represent an effective adjuvant to standard medical therapy of T2DM in this population.

An analysis of data management tools for diabetes self-management: can smart phone technology keep up?

In this issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, Rao and colleagues present a comparison of three iPhone diabetes data management applications: the Diamedic Diabetes Logbook, Blood Sugar Diabetes Control, and WaveSense Diabetes Manager. These applications provide patients the ability to enter blood glucose readings manually, view graphs and simple statistics, and email data to health care providers. While these applications show promise, they are limited in their current forms. All require manual data entry and none convert insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios to insulin dose. Future development of these types of technology should consider integration with blood glucose meters and expanded calculation capabilities, as well as monitoring of other risk factors, e.g., blood pressure and lipids, and tracking of preventive examinations, e.g., eye, foot, and renal.

Pilot clinical study of an endoscopic, removable duodenal-jejunal bypass liner for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery is associated with the rapid improvement of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Here we report an exploratory trial of a completely endoscopic, removable, duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL) intended to treat T2DM.

METHODS

Obese T2DM subjects were randomized to receive a DJBL (n = 12) or sham endoscopy (n = 6) in a 24-week study, extended up to 52 weeks. Measurements included weights, hemoglobin A1c (HbA(1c)), meal tolerance testing, fasting glucose, and seven-point glucose profiles. Subjects' diets were adjusted in the first 2 weeks to obtain similar weight loss during this period.

RESULTS

Subjects had baseline HbA(1c) of 9.1 +/- 1.7% and body mass index of 38.9 +/- 6.1 kg/m(2) (+/- SD). In the completer population by week 1, change in fasting glucose in the DJBL arm was -55 +/- 21 mg/dL versus +42 +/- 30 mg/dL in the sham arm (P < or = 0.05; +/- SE); the seven-point glucose profiles were reduced in the DJBL arm but not in the sham arm. Mean postprandial glucose area under the curve was reduced in the DJBL arm by 20% and increased 17% in the sham arm (P = 0.016). At week 12, HbA(1c) change was -1.3 +/- 0.9% in the DJBL arm and -0.7 +/- 0.4% in the sham arm (P > 0.05), and at 24 weeks, values were -2.4 +/- 0.7% in the DJBL arm and -0.8 +/- 0.4% in the sham arm (P > 0.05). Device migrations required endoscopic removal prior to reaching 52 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

The DJBL rapidly normalized glycemic control in obese T2DM subjects, a promising development in the search for novel therapies less invasive than bariatric surgery.