Long-Acting Exenatide, Injected Once Weekly, Lowers HbA1c and Body Weight

After 30 weeks, patients receiving the long-acting drug had significantly greater decreases in HbA_1c than did those receiving the short-acting drug.

Exenatide (Byetta), the first incretin mimetic drug approved by the FDA, is used as an alternative to insulin when type 2 diabetes cannot be controlled with oral medications. Injected twice daily, exenatide enhances endogenous insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion, reduces food intake, and slows gastric emptying. Unlike insulin, it is associated with weight loss in many patients, but gastrointestinal side effects are common. A new investigational form of the drug can be injected once weekly.

With manufacturer funding, researchers randomized 295 patients with type 2 diabetes to long-acting exenatide (2 mg once weekly) or short-acting exenatide (titrated up to 10 µg twice daily) for 30 weeks. At baseline, patients had glycosylated hem…

Reviewing Author

Bruce Soloway, MD

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Editorial BoardsNew RoAR News (http://www.newroarnews.org)

Bruce Soloway, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsNew RoAR News (http://www.newroarnews.org)

Long-Acting Exenatide, Injected Once Weekly, Lowers HbA_1c and Body Weight

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Reviewing Author