Effect of exenatide QW or placebo, both added to titrated insulin glargine, in uncontrolled type 2 diabetes: The DURATION‐7 randomized study

AIMS: To compare the efficacy and safety of adding the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist exenatide once weekly (QW) 2 mg or placebo among patients with type 2 diabetes who were inadequately controlled despite titrated insulin glargine (IG) ± metformin. METHODS: This multicentre, double‐blind study (http://clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02229383) randomized (1:1) patients with persistent hyperglycaemia after an 8‐week titration phase (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] 7.0%‐10.5% [53‐91 mmol/mol]) to exenatide QW or placebo. The primary endpoint was HbA1c change from baseline to week 28. Secondary endpoints included body weight, 2‐hour postprandial glucose, and mean daily IG dose. RESULTS: Of 464 randomized patients (mean: age, 58 years; HbA1c, 8.5% [69 mmol/mol]; diabetes duration, 11.3 years), 91% completed 28 weeks. Exenatide QW + IG vs placebo + IG significantly reduced HbA1c (least‐squares mean difference, −0.73% [−8.0 mmol/mol]; 95% confidence interval, −0.93%, −0.53% [−10.2, −5.8 mmol/mol]; P < .001; final HbA1c, 7.55% [59 mmol/mol] and 8.24% [67 mmol/mol], respectively); body weight (−1.50 kg; −2.17, −0.84; P < .001); and 2‐hour postprandial glucose (−1.52 mmol/L [−27.5 mg/dL]; −2.15, −0.90 [−38.7, −16.2]; P < .001). Significantly more exenatide QW + IG‐treated patients vs placebo + IG‐treated patients reached HbA1c <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol) (32.5% vs 7.4%; P < .001); daily IG dose increased by 2 and 4 units, respectively. Gastrointestinal and injection‐site adverse events were more frequent with exenatide QW + IG (15.1% and 7.8%, respectively) than with placebo + IG (10.8% and 3.0%, respectively); hypoglycaemia incidence was similar between the exenatide QW + IG (29.7%) and placebo + IG (29.0%) groups, with no major hypoglycaemic events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with inadequate glycaemic control, exenatide QW significantly improved glucose control and decreased body weight, without increased hypoglycaemia or unexpected safety findings.