Trial of Victoza (liraglutide) shows superiority to sitagliptin in type 2 diabetes -Novo Nordisk

Findings from a clinical trial (LIRA-SWITCH) of 407 adults with type 2 diabetes comparing Victoza (liraglutide 1.8 mg), from Novo Nordisk, and sitagliptin (100 mg), both in combination with metformin, demonstrated that switching from sitagliptin to Victoza provided superior HbA1c reductions vs continuing with sitagliptin treatment. The trial demonstrated that more adults with type 2 diabetes treated with Victoza vs sitagliptin achieved HbA1c targets less than 7% (50.6% vs 26.9%; OR [odds ratio]: 3.36; 95% CI: 2.08 to 5.42) and below 6.5% (29.5% vs 9.9%; OR: 5.44; 95% CI: 2.82 to 10.47). Furthermore, adults treated with Victoza demonstrated significantly greater reductions in fasting plasma glucose vs those treated with sitagliptin ( minus 1.84 vs minus 0.73; ETD: minus 1.10; 95% CI minus 1.50 to minus 0.71). Of the 407 adults uncontrolled on sitagliptin (HbA1c 7.5-9.5%) at week 26, those who switched to Victoza (n=203) achieved a superior reduction in HbA1c vs those who continued their sitagliptin treatment (n=204) (minus 1.14% vs minus 0.54%; estimated treatment difference [ETD] minus 0.61%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: minus 0.82 to minus 0.40). Additionally, adults who switched to Victoza experienced significantly greater body weight reductions vs those who continued with their sitagliptin dose (minus 3.31 kg/ minus7.29 lb vs minus 1.64 kg/ minus3.62 lb; ETD minus1.67 kg/ minus 3.68 lb, 95% CI: minus 2.34 to minus 0.99). Adverse events were more common in the Victoza group vs the sitagliptin group (68.8% vs 56.9%), with gastrointestinal side effects more frequent with Victoza. Results from the LIRA-SWITCH trial were presented at the Endocrine Society's 98th Annual Meeting and Expo (ENDO 2016).