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Today, The Lancet published online the results of the first study comparing the once-daily human GLP-1 analogue liraglutide with the DPP-4, inhibitor sitagliptin.
The 26-week trial showed that treatment with liraglutide (1.2mg or 1.8mg) once-daily in combination with metformin resulted in significantly greater reductions in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) compared with treatment with once-daily sitagliptin (100mg) in combination with metformin. Additionally, significantly greater reductions in body weight were observed with liraglutide (1.2mg or 1.8mg) once-daily in combination with metformin compared to once-daily sitagliptin (100mg) in combination with metformin. Overall treatment satisfaction in a subgroup of patients was similar with 1.2mg liraglutide compared with sitagliptin and better with 1.8mg liraglutide compared with sitagliptin.
Furthermore, significantly more patients treated with liraglutide achieved the National Institute of Clinical Health and Excellence (NICE) HbA1c targets for type 2 diabetes of 6.5%, compared with those treated with sitagliptin.1 Nearly twice as many study participants on liraglutide reached the NICE goal compared to the sitagliptin group (35.8% and 22.6% respectively in the 1.8mg and 1.2mg liraglutide groups versus 11.9% in the sitagliptin group).
“This is very important new data for healthcare professionals (HCPs) looking after people with diabetes. This first “head to head” trial between a licensed oral DPP-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin) and an injectable human GLP-1 analogue (liraglutide) has shown improved treatment satisfaction with the injectable therapy (1.8 mg liraglutide),” said lead investigator Professor Melanie Davies, Professor of Diabetes Medicine, University of Leicester and Honorary Consultant, University Hospitals of Leicester. “This challenges the very basis of the resistance that some HCPs have to the use of injectable therapies and hopefully will stimulate more proactive management of patients with type 2 diabetes.”
