Efficacy and Safety of Dulaglutide 3.0 mg and 4.5 mg Versus Dulaglutide 1.5 mg in Metformin-Treated Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in a Randomized Controlled Trial (AWARD-11)

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and safety of dulaglutide at doses of 3.0 and 4.5 mg versus 1.5 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to once-weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg, 3.0 mg, or 4.5 mg for 52 weeks. The primary objective was determining superiority of dulaglutide 3.0 mg and/or 4.5 mg over 1.5 mg in HbA(1c) reduction at 36 weeks. Secondary superiority objectives included change in body weight. Two estimands addressed efficacy objectives: treatment regimen (regardless of treatment discontinuation or rescue medication) and efficacy (on treatment without rescue medication) in all randomly assigned patients. RESULTS: Mean baseline HbA(1c) and BMI in randomly assigned patients (N = 1,842) was 8.6% (70 mmol/mol) and 34.2 kg/m(2), respectively. At 36 weeks, dulaglutide 4.5 mg provided superior HbA(1c) reductions compared with 1.5 mg (treatment-regimen estimand: −1.77 vs. −1.54% [−19.4 vs. −16.8 mmol/mol], estimated treatment difference [ETD] −0.24% (−2.6 mmol/mol), P < 0.001; efficacy estimand: −1.87 vs. −1.53% [−20.4 vs. −16.7 mmol/mol], ETD −0.34% (−3.7 mmol/mol), P < 0.001). Dulaglutide 3.0 mg was superior to 1.5 mg for reducing HbA(1c), using the efficacy estimand (ETD −0.17% [−1.9 mmol/mol]; P = 0.003) but not the treatment-regimen estimand (ETD −0.10% [−1.1 mmol/mol]; P = 0.096). Dulaglutide 4.5 mg was superior to 1.5 mg for weight loss at 36 weeks for both estimands (treatment regimen: −4.6 vs. −3.0 kg, ETD −1.6 kg, P < 0.001; efficacy: −4.7 vs. −3.1 kg, ETD −1.6 kg, P < 0.001). Common adverse events through 36 weeks included nausea (1.5 mg, 13.4%; 3 mg, 15.6%; 4.5 mg, 16.4%) and vomiting (1.5 mg, 5.6%; 3 mg, 8.3%; 4.5 mg, 9.3%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by metformin, escalation from dulaglutide 1.5 mg to 3.0 mg or 4.5 mg provided clinically relevant, dose-related reductions in HbA(1c) and body weight with a similar safety profile.