One‐year efficacy and safety of a fixed combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes: results of a 26‐week extension to a 26‐week main trial

“…It is less likely that the more relaxed titration targets in our study or the use of human insulins rather than insulin analogues would explain these differences. In DUAL VII, 66% of people achieved HbA1c < 7.0% (53.0 mmol/mol) with IDegLira, in the other DUAL trials this ranged 56 to 81%, consistent with our finding of over 60% [ 11 – 15 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…These HbA1c improvements are in accordance with those observed over 26 weeks in the DUAL trials: 1.4–1.9% (15.3–20.8 mmol/mol) with IDegLira, and 1.5% (16.4 mmol/mol) with basal–bolus therapy [ 11 – 15 , 17 , 18 ]. Our finding that the decrease in HbA1c was larger with IDegLira than with ICT contrasts with the DUAL VII findings, where reductions were similar [ 17 ].…”

“…A significantly smaller increase in body weight was seen with IDegLira (2.9 kg) compared with degludec (4.1 kg), probably as a result of the weight‐reducing effect of liraglutide . This significant difference is in alignment with findings from the global trial programme . The weight gain associated with IDegLira treatment is in contrast to the modest weight loss (−0.5 kg) observed with IDegLira in the global DUAL I trial, which could be attributed to differences in background OAD therapy between the global DUAL I extension trial and the present trial, and/or the difference in the relationship between BMI, insulin resistance and diabetes development in Japanese and white people …”

“…In conclusion, the results from these secondary analyses, using two different methodologies to assess BG fluctuations, consistently support the main results from the parent trials demonstrating greater improvements in glycemic control with IDegLira versus lira alone 15 or IDeg alone. 14 , 15 These new findings on glycemic fluctuation provide additional clarification about how the complementary modes of action of IDeg and liraglutide can help more patients achieve glycemic targets.…”

“…In conclusion, the results from these secondary analyses, using two different methodologies to assess BG fluctuations, consistently support the main results from the parent trials demonstrating greater improvements in glycemic control with IDegLira versus lira alone 15 or IDeg alone. 14 , 15 These new findings on glycemic fluctuation provide additional clarification about how the complementary modes of action of IDeg and liraglutide can help more patients achieve glycemic targets. IDegLira shifted the blood glucose profile downward compared to liraglutide, flattened the profile compared to IDeg, and was associated with reduced glycemic fluctuations compared to the individual components alone, allowing more patients to achieve their average blood glucose targets while remaining within target levels for a higher proportion of the day.…”