Effects of gevokizumab on glycemia and inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Metabolic activation of the innate immune system governed by interleukin (IL)-1β contributes to β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes. Gevokizumab is a novel, human-engineered monoclonal anti-IL-1β antibody. We evaluated the safety and biological activity of gevokizumab in patients with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
In a placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study, a total of 98 patients were randomly assigned to placebo (17 subjects) or gevokizumab (81 subjects) at increasing doses and dosing schedules. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the safety profile of gevokizumab in type 2 diabetes. The secondary objectives were to assess pharmacokinetics for different dose levels, routes of administration, and regimens and to assess biological activity.


RESULTS
The study drug was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. There was one hypoglycemic event whereupon concomitant insulin treatment had to be reduced. Clearance of gevokizumab was consistent with that for a human IgG(2), with a half-life of 22 days. In the combined intermediate-dose group (single doses of 0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg), the mean placebo-corrected decrease in glycated hemoglobin was 0.11, 0.44, and 0.85% after 1, 2 (P = 0.017), and 3 (P = 0.049) months, respectively, along with enhanced C-peptide secretion, increased insulin sensitivity, and a reduction in C-reactive protein and spontaneous and inducible cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel IL-1β-neutralizing antibody improved glycemia, possibly via restored insulin production and action, and reduced inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes. This therapeutic agent may be able to be used on a once-every-month or longer schedule.
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism,University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Claudia
C
Cavelti-Weder
Andrea
A
Babians-Brunner
Cornelia
C
Keller
Marc A
MA
Stahel
Malaika
M
Kurz-Levin
Hany
H
Zayed
Alan M
AM
Solinger
Thomas
T
Mandrup-Poulsen
Charles A
CA
Dinarello
Marc Y
MY
Donath
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos
D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D016207:Cytokines; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010919:Placebos; C547697:gevokizumab