Positive trial for Byetta + basal insulin glargine/metformin as effective as Humalog in Type 2 Diabetes - Astra Zeneca

Byetta (exenatide) from AstraZeneca added to basal insulin glargine/meformin is just as effective at lowering blood sugar in adults with Type II Diabetes as adding bolus insulin lispro (Lilly�s Humalog), but has the added benefit of helping to reduce weight according to new data published in Diabetes Care. The Phase III study, the first to directly compare adding a GLP-1 receptor agonist to basal insulin against a standard basal-bolus insulin regimen, hit its primary target of non-inferiority in reducing levels of HbA1c at 30 weeks (-1.13% and -1.10%, respectively. The data are particularly significant as Byetta is the first and only short-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist shown to be as effective as rapid-acting meal-time insulin in boosting glycaemic control. The additional benefit of weight loss is also important, especially in comparison to the weight gain that is usually seen in patients taking insulin.