Five weeks of treatment with the GLP-1 analogue liraglutide improves glycaemic control and lowers body weight in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Effects of the long acting GLP-1 analogue--liraglutide in subjects with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
144 type 2 diabetic subjects on metformin treatment (1000 mg BID) were randomised to 5 weeks of treatment (double-blind) with metformin plus liraglutide, liraglutide or metformin, or metformin plus glimepiride (open label). The dose of liraglutide was increased weekly from 0.5 to 2 mg OD.


RESULTS
Liraglutide added to metformin monotherapy was associated with a significant reduction in fasting serum glucose (FSG) (-3.9 mM -4.9; -2.9) (primary objective), and HbA1c levels (-0.8% -1.2; -0.4). Furthermore, liraglutide in combination with metformin vs. metformin plus glimepiride significantly reduced FSG (-1.2 mM -2.2; -0.2). In addition, body weight was significantly lower in the metformin plus liraglutide vs. the metformin plus glimepiride group (-2.9 kg -3.6; -2.1). There were no biochemically confirmed episodes of hypoglycaemia with liraglutide treatment. Nausea was the most frequently reported adverse event following liraglutide therapy, it was transient in nature, and led to withdrawal of only 4% of the subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Using a weekly dose-titration liraglutide is well tolerated up to 2 mg daily. While liraglutide caused transient gastrointestinal side effects, this rarely interfered with continuing treatment. An improvement in FSG over that in control groups was seen for liraglutide as an add-on to metformin. In the latter case, body weight was reduced in comparison to metformin plus glimepiride. Liraglutide is a promising drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Nauck
M A
MA
Diabeteszentrum, Bad Lauterberg im Harz, Germany. M.Nauck@diabeteszentrum.de
Hompesch
M
M
Filipczak
R
R
Le
T D T
TD
Zdravkovic
M
M
Gumprecht
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069450:Liraglutide; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000069450:Liraglutide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D008687:Metformin