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Insulin Degludec Matches Insulin Glargine Efficacy

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Insulin Degludec May Be a Valuable Addition

Both studies demonstrate that degludec could be a valuable addition to presently available insulins, particularly because of degludec’s benefit regarding hypoglycemia, which "is commonly the greatest barrier to achievement of normal glucose concentrations with insulin therapy," said Dr. Abd A. Tahrani, Dr. Clifford J. Bailey, and Dr. Anthony H. Barnett.

However, it is not yet known whether the steady glucose insulin concentrations achieved in these clinical trials will translate into clinical benefit. *"Indeed, the proportion of patients who had any symptoms of hypoglycemia was very high (greater than 80%) in both studies," they noted.

Dr. Tahrani is at the centre of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of Birmingham (England) Institute of Biomedical Research. Dr. Bailey is in the school of life and health sciences at Aston University, Birmingham. Dr. Barnett is at the diabetes centre at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. They reported ties to numerous industry sources, including Novo Nordisk. These remarks were taken from their editorial comment accompanying the two reports on insulin degludec (Lancet 2012;379:1465-7).

*CORRECTION 5/9/12: A previous version of this story misstated the proportion of patients who had any symptoms of hypoglycemia.


 

FROM THE LANCET

The proportion of patients who achieved target HbA1c levels was similar in both groups, at 49% with insulin degludec and 50% with insulin glargine, they said (Lancet 2012;379:1498-507).

Rates of overall hypoglycemia were significantly lower with insulin degludec (11.09 episodes per patient-year of exposure) than with insulin glargine (13.63 episodes per patient-year), as were rates of nocturnal and daytime hypoglycemia.

Mean weight gain was the same between the two study groups, as were the rates of adverse events and of serious adverse events other than hypoglycemia.

Both studies were sponsored by Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of degludec. Novo Nordisk designed both studies, supplied products and equipment, and provided data monitoring and management, statistical analysis, and the written report of the trial results. Dr. Heller, Dr. Garber, and their associates reported numerous ties to industry sources. Dr. Tahrani, Dr. Bailey, and Dr. Barnett also reported ties to numerous industry sources, including Novo Nordisk.

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