title: Insulin Degludec/Liraglutide: A Review in Type 2 Diabetes.
abstract: Insulin degludec/liraglutide (Xultophy(®)), a fixed-ratio combination of an ultra-long-acting insulin analogue and a glucagon-like protein-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is available in the EU for the management of inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. Once-daily subcutaneous insulin degludec/liraglutide as add-on therapy to oral antidiabetics was effective and generally well tolerated in adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes in several well designed 26-week phase III trials. In insulin-naive patients, add-on insulin degludec/liraglutide provided significantly greater improvements in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels than add-on insulin degludec, liraglutide or placebo, or unchanged GLP-1 receptor agonists (i.e. liraglutide or exenatide). In the extension of one of these trials, the efficacy of add-on insulin degludec/liraglutide was maintained for a total of 52 weeks. In insulin-experienced patients, add-on insulin degludec/liraglutide was significantly more effective with regard to improvements in HbA1c levels than add-on insulin degludec (at equivalent doses) or ongoing insulin glargine therapy. Add-on insulin degludec/liraglutide was associated with a lower incidence of confirmed hypoglycaemia than add-on insulin degludec in insulin-naive patients or ongoing insulin glargine in insulin-experienced patients, and a lower initial rate of nausea than add-on liraglutide. Thus, once-daily subcutaneous insulin degludec/liraglutide is a useful add-on therapy option for adult patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay 0754, Auckland, New Zealand, demail@springer.com.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: Lesley J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D000069450:Liraglutide; C571886:insulin degludec