Direct Comparison of Long-Acting Exenatide vs. Liraglutide

Among the glucagon-like peptide-1–receptor agonists, long-acting exenatide (Bydureon; injected once weekly) and liraglutide (Victoza; injected once daily) each provide better glycemic control than the older, twice-daily formulation of exenatide (Byetta). Weekly exenatide generally has performed better than liraglutide, but the two agents have not been compared directly.

In an open-label study, sponsored by the manufacturers of exenatide, researchers randomized 911 adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA_1c] levels, 7.1%–11.0% while taking at least one oral antidiabetic agent) to add either exenatide (2 mg, once weekly) or liraglutide (titrated to 1.8 mg once daily). Patients who were unable to tolerate the maxim…