Dive Brief:
- Newly released data from the 7,000-subject EMPA-REG OUTCOME study showed that Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim's Jardiance (empagliflozin) reduces the combined risk of hospitalization or death due to heart failure by 39%.
- The new data represents even more good news for the diabetes med. Earlier results from the EMPA-REG trial which were reported in August showed that people with diabetes who were treated with Jardiance (empagliflozin) had significantly fewer cardiac deaths and non-fatal heart attacks or strokes, compared with patients treated with standard of care—a risk reduction of 32%.
- The findings are significant because Jardiance is the only diabetes drug with a demonstrated cardiovascular (CV) benefit.
Dive Insight:
In August, Jardiance made diabetes drug history when it became the first antidiabetic with a demonstrated CV benefit. This new data adds on another component—deaths and hospitalizations specifically related to heart failure. Given that people with diabetes are two to three times more likely to develop heart failure, these results have far-reaching implications.
One of the most striking aspects of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME study is that half of the patients in the study were already using insulin, suggesting more advanced disease. Moreover, onset of benefits became evident almost immediately after the first day of treatment.
As more data continues to be generated and presented from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME study, there are more reasons to be excited about Jardiance and perhaps SGLT-2 inhibitors as a class.