Review of the safety and efficacy of exenatide once weekly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize and evaluate the available literature assessing the efficacy and safety of exenatide once weekly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
PubMed (1966-January 2012) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1969-January 2012) were searched using the term exenatide once weekly. Abstracts presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in 2011 and reference citations from publications were reviewed for inclusion. Eli Lilly and Company and Amylin Pharmaceuticals were contacted for additional unpublished information.


METHODS
All English-language articles and abstracts were evaluated for inclusion. All randomized controlled trials were included in the review.


RESULTS
The efficacy and safety of exenatide once weekly has been evaluated as initial monotherapy and as add-on therapy to metformin, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes for up to 3 years. Results from 6 randomized, comparator-controlled studies in over 3000 patients indicate that treatment with exenatide once weekly results in significant glycemic improvements and weight loss. Gastrointestinal adverse effects and injection site reactions are common, but rarely lead to drug discontinuation.


CONCLUSIONS
Exenatide once weekly holds promise as a convenient, efficacious, and well-tolerated antihyperglycemic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Studies evaluating outcomes such as cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality with exenatide once weekly are lacking.
Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Colchester, VT, USA. katie.murphy@acphs.edu
Catherine E
CE
Murphy
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077270:Exenatide; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014688:Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
C000593833:GLP1R protein, human; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010455:Peptides; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D014688:Venoms; D000077270:Exenatide