Dive Brief:
- In a 28-week study, AstraZeneca’s exanatide once-weekly suspension for autoinjection was as effective as twice-daily exanatide injection (Byetta) for glycemic control.
- In a study of 377 patients, the two treatments were compared, focusing on the primary endpoint of adequate glycemic control and secondary endpoints of achieving HbA1C levels under 7%, as well as weight loss.
- In the trial, a similar number of patients treated with the autosuspension injection treatment achieved HbA1C levels under 7%, compared with Byetta-treated patients.
Dive Insight:
In addition to positive efficacy results related to glycemic control and HbA1C levels, the formulation also showed a high level of safety and tolerability. Because of the chronic nature of diabetes and the challenge of treatment adherence, convenience is a driving factor in developing new treatment protocols. AstraZeneca is also at work on a new delivery device.