LixiLan outperforms Lantus alone in new type 2 diabetes trial

A new study finds that LixiLan (iGlarLixi) helps more people with type 2 diabetes achieve better HbA1c levels than Lantus (insulin glargine) alone.
LixiLa, a drug made by Sanofi that combines Lantus and Lyxumia (lixisenatide), also improved blood sugar levels after meals in type 2 diabetes patients.
The findings of this new trial were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting and published in Diabetes Care.
A total of 1,170 participants with type 2 diabetes were recruited, all of whom had poor control with one to two oral anti-diabetic drugs.
The trial lasted 30 weeks and involved participants being randomised to once-daily iGlarLixi or Lantus alone. Patients who were previously taking metformin continued to do so throughout the study, but other oral agents were discontinued.
HbA1c levels were tested at the beginning and end of the study, with significant reductions observed among the iGlarLixi group, which were superior to those in the Lantus alone group.
Participants were told to aim for an HbA1c of under 7% (53 mmol/mol); the iGlarLixi participants had an average of 6.5% (47.5 mmol/mol), while the Lantus group averaged 6.8% (50.8 mmol/mol).
Furthermore, postprandial (after meal) blood sugar levels were better among those taking iGlarLixi, who also had less nausea and vomiting.
The study authors said: “iGlarLixi complemented [insulin glargine] and [lixisenatide] effects to achieve meaningful HbA1c reductions, close to near normoglycemia without increases in either hypoglycemia or weight, compared with iGlar, and had low gastrointestinal adverse effects compared with Lixi.”
LixiLan is currently in phase III of development, and Sanofi has submitted to the FDA for regulatory approval. A decision is expected later this year.