EU-TREAT trial showed that people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes saw a significant reduction in HbA1c with Tresiba (insulin degludec)- Novo Nordisk

Findings from the real-world study, EU-TREAT (EUropean TREsiba AudiT), of Tresiba (insulin degludec) from Novo Nordisk, showed that people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes experienced a significant reduction in HbA1c (-0.2% for type 1 diabetes and -0.5% for type 2 diabetes) six months after switching to Tresiba from another basal insulin, primarily insulin glargine U100 and insulin detemir, in a real-world setting. These results were sustained at 12 months. Rates of overall hypoglycaemia were also significantly lower at six months after switching to Tresiba. In people with type 1 diabetes, the rate of severe hypoglycaemia was reduced by 85% and by 92% in people with type 2 diabetes. Hypoglycaemia outcomes at 12 months were in line with these results.

In addition, a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose was observed at six months (-18.7 mg/dL for type 1 diabetes, and -23.7 mg/dL for type 2 diabetes) and maintained for 12 months. The total daily insulin dose also decreased significantly in people with type 1 diabetes (-4.9 units) and type 2 diabetes (-2.5 units) at six months, and remained stable at 12 months. Data were presented at the American Diabetes Association's 77th Scientific Sessions.

Comment: Tresiba has launched in the US where it will compete with Lantus (insulin glargine), Sanofi's best selling diabetes treatment. Tresiba has advantages over Lantus: it has a longer half life and creates less hypoglycaemia - Tresiba has a 'flat and steady' doseage profile that allows patients to dose at any time of day. Sanofi has also gained US approval for Toujeo (basal insulin) a longer-acting successor to Lantus.