Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) touted data today from a Phase IIIb study of its once-weekly, injectable Type II diabetes medication, Trulicity.
The insulin-maker reported that its GLP-1 receptor agonist significantly improved blood sugar control in people with Type II diabetes when added to ongoing treatment with a SGLT-2 inhibitor.
“I’ve seen in my practice that even with effective oral medicines like SGLT-2 inhibitors and metformin, many adults with Type II diabetes may still need additional therapy to maintain their blood sugar levels,” lead author Dr. Bernhard Ludvik said in prepared remarks. “The Award-10 results suggest that the combination of once-weekly Trulicity and an SGLT-2 inhibitor shows significant promise in helping more people with type 2 diabetes reach their treatment goals.”
The 424-patient study showed that after 24 weeks, both doses of Trulicity in combination with an SGLT-2 inhibitor demonstrated statistically better blood sugar control compared to an SGLT-2 inhibitor combined with a placebo.
The researchers also found that more people treated with Trulicity reached target A1c levels compared to the placebo group.
Study participants reported treatment-related adverse events like nausea and vomiting – all of which were consistent with previous studies, according to Eli Lilly.
“Managing Type II diabetes with diet, exercise and oral medications may require the addition of injectable therapy for some people, given the progressive nature of the disease,” Dr. Brad Woodward, senior medical director of Lilly Diabetes, added. “Award-10 showed that Trulicity, when used in combination with an SGLT-2 inhibitor and metformin, may be effective and well tolerated in people with type 2 diabetes.”
