Once-Weekly Exenatide: An 84-Week Study

We previously reported 26-week results of an industry-sponsored randomized trial in which researchers compared once-weekly subcutaneous exenatide ((Bydureon; 2 mg) and once-daily insulin glargine (Lantus) in 456 patients (mean age, 58) with longstanding type 2 diabetes. All were taking oral antidiabetic agents, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels were between 7% and 11% (mean, 8.3%; JW Gen Med Jul 13 2010). During the study, insulin glargine was titrated to achieve fasting glucose levels <100 mg/dL, metformin was continued, and sulfonylurea was used at the discretion of treating physicians. The researchers now report longer-term results.

At 84 weeks, the mean insulin glargine dose was 35 units. Mean HbA_1c was 7.1% with exenatide and 7…