title: Initial combination therapy with metformin, pioglitazone and exenatide is more effective than sequential add-on therapy in subjects with new-onset diabetes. Results from the Efficacy and Durability of Initial Combination Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes (EDICT): a randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test our hypothesis that initiating therapy with a combination of agents known to improve insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in subjects with new-onset diabetes would produce greater, more durable reduction in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, while avoiding hypoglycaemia and weight gain, compared with sequential addition of agents that lower plasma glucose but do not correct established pathophysiological abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drug-naïve, recently diagnosed subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were randomized in an open-fashion design in a single-centre study to metformin/pioglitazone/exenatide (triple therapy; n = 106) or an escalating dose of metformin followed by sequential addition of sulfonylurea and glargine insulin (conventional therapy; n = 115) to maintain HbA1c levels at <6.5% for 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants receiving triple therapy experienced a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c level than those receiving conventional therapy (5.95 vs. 6.50%; p < 0.001). Despite lower HbA1c values, participants receiving triple therapy experienced a 7.5-fold lower rate of hypoglycaemia compared with participants receiving conventional therapy. Participants receiving triple therapy experienced a mean weight loss of 1.2 kg versus a mean weight gain of 4.1 kg (p < 0.01) in those receiving conventional therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this exploratory study show that combination therapy with metformin/pioglitazone/exenatide in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM is more effective and results in fewer hypoglycaemic events than sequential add-on therapy with metformin, sulfonylurea and then basal insulin.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Division, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdul-Ghani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puckett
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Triplitt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maggs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cersosimo
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: DeFronzo
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D000077270:Exenatide; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014688:Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000077270:Exenatide; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin; D010455:Peptides; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014688:Venoms; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: combination therapy; conventional therapy; durability; glycaemic control