LEAD 3: Liraglutide reduced blood glucose, weight, blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes

American Diabetes Association 68th Scientific Sessions

Liraglutide may be a beneficial treatment when used early in the course of diabetes, according to data presented at the 68th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association on Saturday.

The phase 3 Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes (LEAD) study compared the safety and efficacy of two doses of once-daily liraglutide – 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg – with once-daily glimepiride 8 mg in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes who had been treated with just one or no oral antidiabetic drugs.

During one year, liraglutide produced substantial improvements in HbA1c from baseline that were significantly greater than glimepiride (liraglutide 1.8 mg, 1.14%; liraglutide 1.2 mg, 0.84%; glimepiride 0.51%). In addition, 58.2% of patients randomly assigned to the 1.8 mg dose and 53.5% assigned to the 1.2 mg dose achieved HbA1c <7% compared with 33.3% assigned to glimepiride. The improvements in blood glucose were sustained for the duration of the study with liraglutide.

Liraglutide-treated patients also lost weight (1.8 mg dose, 2.45 kg; 1.2 mg dose, 2.05 kg) compared with glimepiride-treated patients, who gained weight (1.12 kg).

Further, once-daily liraglutide produced significant improvements in risk for hypoglycemia and systolic blood pressure.

The most common adverse events were mild to moderate nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. – by Katie Kalvaitis

Ratner RE. 7-LB.