Early use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in type 2 diabetes

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Utilization in Type 2 Diabetes in Japan: A Retrospective Database Analysis (JDDM 57)

INTRODUCTION

There are limited real-world data on the prescribing of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of the CoDiC® database of the Japan Diabetes Clinical Data Management Study Group (JDDM). Demographic and clinical characteristics, concomitant treatment patterns, and GLP-1 RA treatment persistence or modification in patients with T2DM initiating GLP-1 RA therapy were evaluated.

RESULTS

The analysis included 932 eligible patients with T2DM who had their first GLP-1 RA prescription (index date) between September 2016 and July 2018. Mean age was 63.8 years and 56.0% were male. Most patients had an index GLP-1 RA of dulaglutide (65.7%) or liraglutide (29.1%). Common comorbidities were obesity (58.7%), hypertension (54.7%), dyslipidemia (52.0%), retinopathy (11.3%), and nephropathy (10.2%). Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels decreased from 8.3 to 7.8% over 6 months after GLP-1 RA initiation, and the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c < 7.0% increased from 14.4% at index date to 22.9% at 6 months. Reductions occurred in mean body weight, body mass index, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and adjusted urinary albumin over 6 months. Antidiabetic medication use decreased after GLP-1 RA initiation, whereas non-antidiabetic medication prescribing showed little change. Index GLP-1 RA persistence rates were 80.5%, 66.2%, and 51.6% at 6, 12, and 18 months post-index, respectively, with a median persistence until discontinuation or switch of 600 days. Persistence rates at 6, 12, and 18 months post-index, respectively, were 81.9%, 70.7%, and 65.4% for dulaglutide and 79.7%, 60.0%, and 30.4% for liraglutide.

CONCLUSION

The study shows real-world benefits of GLP-1 RA therapy for T2DM, including improvements in HbA1c, body weight, and blood lipid profile, and supports the high rates of long-term persistence previously reported with dulaglutide, the GLP-1 RA most commonly prescribed for T2DM in Japanese clinical practice.

Activation of pCREB/Nrf-2 signaling mediates re-positioning of liraglutide as hepato-protective for methotrexate -induced liver injury (MILI)

Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used to treat several types of cancer and autoimmune diseases. However, there is increasing concern over its organs toxicities particularly liver toxicity. Liraglutide, a glucagon like peptide-1 agonist, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features. This study aimed to explore the potential protective effect of liraglutide pre-treatment in ameliorating MTX-induced hepatotoxicity and to further investigate the underlying mechanisms. Rats received 1.2 mg/kg liraglutide intraperitoneal twice daily for 7 days before MTX. Results revealed that liraglutide significantly decreased activities of liver enzymes and oxidative stress in hepatocytes. Furthermore, NF-kB expression and related inflammatory markers (TNF-α, COX-2 and IL-6) were reduced in the pre-treatment group of liraglutide. These data validate the advantageous effects of liraglutide in MTX hepatotoxic animals. In addition, liraglutide increased the expression of the antioxidant transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), along with the transcription of downstream phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) which increases the activity of Nrf-2. Additionally, caspase-3 expression/activity and BAX/Bcl-2 ratio were decreased following liraglutide pre-treatment. In conclusion, it was confirmed that liraglutide enhanced the antioxidant activity of liver cells by activating the Nrf-2 and pCREB signaling, thereby, reducing liver cell inflammation and apoptosis induced by MTX.

The Effect of Early Response to GLP-1 RA Therapy on Long-Term Adherence and Persistence Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients in the United States

BACKGROUND

Treatment adherence and persistence are crucial to achieve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Early response to a new therapy may lead to improved treatment adherence and associated outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of early response to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy, as indicated by reduced hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and body weight, on long-term adherence and persistence.

METHODS

Adults aged ≥ 18 years with T2D initiated with GLP-1 RA therapy after January 1, 2010, were identified from the IBM Explorys Therapeutic Dataset. Patients were required to have health care utilization ≥ 6 months before and ≥ 18 months after the index prescription. Changes in A1c and body weight from baseline through 6 months were assessed for all patients; early response was defined by > 1% reduction in A1c and > 3% reduction in body weight within 3-6 months. Adherence (assessed as the proportion of days covered [PDC] ≥ 80%) and nonpersistence/discontinuation (indicated by a gap in therapy ≥ 60 days) over 18 months were evaluated among early responders versus nonresponders. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the effect of early response to GLP-1 RA therapy on adherence and discontinuation over 18 months.

RESULTS

Among 8,329 identified patients, 33.3% and 31.2% experienced early response as indicated by reductions in A1c > 1% point and in body weight > 3% from baseline, respectively. Significantly higher proportions (P < 0.001) of early responders in both reduced A1c and body weight were adherent over 18 months compared with patients without an early response (A1c: 45.0% vs. 37.1%; body weight: 43.3% vs. 38.0%). Significantly lower proportions (P < 0.001) of early responders discontinued over 18 months compared with patients without an early response (A1c: 61.4% vs. 67.9%; body weight: 61.9% vs. 67.5%). After controlling for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics including baseline weight, baseline A1c, oral antidiabetes drug use, insulin use, and the presence of comorbidity of diabetes, patients were more likely to be adherent over 18 months if they had reductions in A1c > 1% (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.36-1.85) or body weight reduction > 3% (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02-1.36) at 3-6 months compared with those without an early response. Similarly, the early responders had significantly lower likelihood of discontinuation compared with those without early response (A1c > 1%; OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.53-0.72; body weight > 3%; OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.70-0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Early response to GLP-1 RA therapy was associated with significantly increased adherence and reduced likelihood of discontinuation.

DISCLOSURES

Funding to conduct this study was provided to IBM Watson Health by Novo Nordisk A/S. The analysis was conducted independently by IBM Watson Health. Novo Nordisk A/S and IBM Watson Health collaborated on study design and interpretation of results. At the time of this study, Durden and Laing were employed by IBM Watson Health and received funding from Novo Nordisk to conduct this study. Fowler is employed by IBM Watson Health. Panton and Mocevic were employed by Novo Nordisk while this study was conducted. A portion of these results were presented at the AMCP Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting 2018; April 23-26, 2018; Boston, MA, where it was awarded with a bronze ribbon.

Complement 1q-like-3 protein inhibits insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells via the cell adhesion G protein-coupled receptor BAI3

Secreted proteins are important metabolic regulators in both healthy and disease states. Here, we sought to investigate the mechanism by which the secreted protein complement 1q-like-3 (C1ql3) regulates insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells, a key process affecting whole-body glucose metabolism. We found that C1ql3 predominantly inhibits exendin-4- and cAMP-stimulated insulin secretion from mouse and human islets. However, to a lesser extent, C1ql3 also reduced insulin secretion in response to KCl, the potassium channel blocker tolbutamide, and high glucose. Strikingly, C1ql3 did not affect insulin secretion stimulated by fatty acids, amino acids, or mitochondrial metabolites, either at low or submaximal glucose concentrations. Additionally, C1ql3 inhibited glucose-stimulated cAMP levels, and insulin secretion stimulated by exchange protein directly activated by cAMP-2 and protein kinase A. These results suggest that C1ql3 inhibits insulin secretion primarily by regulating cAMP signaling. The cell adhesion G protein-coupled receptor, brain angiogenesis inhibitor-3 (BAI3), is a C1ql3 receptor and is expressed in β-cells and in mouse and human islets, but its function in β-cells remained unknown. We found that siRNA-mediated Bai3 knockdown in INS1(832/13) cells increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Furthermore, incubating the soluble C1ql3-binding fragment of the BAI3 protein completely blocked the inhibitory effects of C1ql3 on insulin secretion in response to cAMP. This suggests that BAI3 mediates the inhibitory effects of C1ql3 on insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. These findings demonstrate a novel regulatory mechanism by which C1ql3/BAI3 signaling causes an impairment of insulin secretion from β-cells, possibly contributing to the progression of type 2 diabetes in obesity.

Treatment patterns in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: Higher adherence and persistence with dulaglutide compared with once-weekly exenatide and liraglutide

AIMS

To compare adherence (proportion of days covered [PDC]), persistence, and treatment patterns among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) newly initiating glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). More specifically, the main objectives were to compare dulaglutide vs exenatide once weekly and dulaglutide vs liraglutide.

METHODS

Patients with T2DM newly initiating dulaglutide, albiglutide, exenatide once weekly, exenatide twice daily and liraglutide between November 2014 and April 2015 were hierarchically selected from Truven Health's MarketScan Research Databases. Propensity score matching was used to account for selection bias. Adherence to and persistence with the index GLP-1RA, and switching and augmentation patterns were assessed during the 6-month post-index period.

RESULTS

Mean adherence for the matched cohorts was significantly higher for dulaglutide than for exenatide once weekly (0.72 vs 0.61; P  < .0001) and liraglutide (0.71 vs 0.67; P  < .0001). The percentage of patients achieving PDC ≥ 0.80 was significantly higher for dulaglutide compared with exenatide once weekly (54.2% vs 37.9%; P  < .0001) and liraglutide (53.5% vs 44.3%; P  < .0001). The mean (standard deviation) days on treatment for all matched patients was significantly higher for patients in the dulaglutide cohort compared with those in the exenatide once-weekly (148.4 [55.4] vs 123.6 [61.6]; P  < .0001) and liraglutide cohorts (146.0 [56.9] vs 137.4 [60.1]; P  < .0001). A significantly lower proportion of patients on dulaglutide discontinued treatment compared with those on exenatide once weekly (26.2% vs 48.4%; P  < .0001) and those on liraglutide (28.0% vs 35.6%; P  < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Dulaglutide initiators had significantly higher adherence, were more persistent, and had lower discontinuation rates compared with initiators of exenatide once weekly or liraglutide during the 6-month follow-up period.

Liraglutide: a review of its use in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Subcutaneous liraglutide (Victoza(®)), a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, is approved for the treatment of adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Once-daily liraglutide, as monotherapy or add-on therapy to other antidiabetic agents (including basal insulin), was an effective and generally well tolerated treatment in adult patients with type 2 diabetes in several well-designed phase III trials and in the real world clinical practice setting. In addition to improving glycaemic control, liraglutide had beneficial effects on bodyweight, systolic blood pressure and surrogate measures of β-cell function in clinical trials, with these benefits maintained during long-term treatment (≤2 years). Liraglutide has a convenient once-daily administration regimen, a low potential for drug-drug interactions and low propensity to cause hypoglycaemia. Thus, liraglutide continues to be a useful option for the management of type 2 diabetes. This article reviews the therapeutic use of liraglutide in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and summarizes its pharmacological properties.

Pilot study of liraglutide effects in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with glucose intolerance in Japanese patients (LEAN-J)

AIM

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, is associated with an increased risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cerebral vessel disease. No current drug therapy provides the ideal effects of decreasing hepatic inflammation while simultaneously improving liver fibrosis. Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that affects the histological findings in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study was conducted to evaluate the effect and action of liraglutide for biopsy-proven NASH.

METHODS

After lifestyle modification intervention for 24 weeks, subjects whose hemoglobin A1c levels failed to improve to less than 6.0% and/or whose alanine aminotransferase levels were not lower than baseline, received liraglutide at 0.9 mg/body per day for 24 weeks.

RESULTS

Of 27 subjects, 26 completed the lifestyle modification intervention. Nineteen subjects received liraglutide therapy for 24 weeks. Body mass index, visceral fat accumulation, aminotransferases and glucose abnormalities improved significantly. Repeated liver biopsy was performed in 10 subjects who continued liraglutide therapy for 96 weeks. Six subjects showed decreased histological inflammation as determined by NASH activity score and stage determined by Brunt classification. We saw no significant adverse events during therapy with liraglutide.

CONCLUSION

Our pilot study demonstrated that treatment with liraglutide had a good safety profile and significantly improved liver function and histological features in NASH patients with glucose intolerance.

A multiplicity of targets: evaluating composite endpoint studies of the GLP-1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Current type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment guidelines include weight maintenance or loss, avoidance of hypoglycemia, and targets for blood pressure and circulating lipids, in addition to glycemic control. Increasingly, clinical trials and meta-analyses employ composite endpoints to capture the net clinical benefit of a given T2D intervention. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) represent a new class of injected antihyperglycemic agents that may be well suited to reaching many of these targets among patients failing on metformin monotherapy.

RESEARCH DESIGNS AND METHODS

Using MEDLINE, Embase and Google Scholar, studies were sought that employed composite endpoints and that reported outcomes with exenatide and/or liraglutide. Bibliographies of relevant review articles were consulted to search for additional reports.

RESULTS

Many trials have used the combination of HbA1c <7%, no weight gain and no hypoglycemic episodes as the composite endpoint in evaluating T2D therapies; however, at least 15 other distinct composite endpoints have been reported. Findings were relatively consistent across studies, regardless of how the composite endpoint was defined. Specifically, the GLP-1 RAs appear to be superior to other agents in their efficacy in providing T2D patients failing on metformin with a net clinical benefit, which can include avoidance of hyperglycemia and maintenance or improvement in body weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of composite endpoints represents an important advance in T2D. While no single such endpoint has achieved dominance in the field, widely used composite endpoints capture efficacy in glycemic control as well as safety and effects on markers of cardiovascular risk.

Efficacy of liraglutide in a real-life cohort

INTRODUCTION

In the Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes (LEAD) randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing liraglutide in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), glycated hemoglobin (A1c) was reduced by 7-16 mmol/mol and weight by up to 3.4 kg. As real-life efficacy data on liraglutide is limited, the authors assessed clinical effects in a real-life cohort.

METHODS

In this retrospective analysis from the Israeli Health Maintenance Organization Maccabi, of patients with T2DM, treated with liraglutide ≥6 months during 2011-2012, evaluations were performed at baseline and 6 months.

RESULTS

Insulin-naïve patients (n = 1,101) treated with liraglutide with at least one A1c or weight measurement were identified. In 933 patients with an additional A1c value after 6 months, A1c decreased by 9 mmol/mol (p < 0.0001, 95% CI 7-11) from 72 mmol/mol. In patients receiving >2 oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) prior to liraglutide treatment (80.7% patients), A1c decreased by 7 mmol/mol, and in those receiving ≤2 OADs, by 12 mmol/mol. In 453 patients with baseline data available, weight decreased by 2.55 kg (p < 0.0001); 173 patients (38.18%) achieved ≥1% A1c reduction. Furthermore, 91 patients (20.1%) achieved National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria (decreased A1c ≥1%; weight ≥3%). Weight reduction was marginally correlated with A1c reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence from real-life use of liraglutide demonstrated clinical effects similar to those demonstrated in RCTs.