Efficacy of once‐daily glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist lixisenatide as an add‐on treatment to basal insulin in Asian and white adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An individual‐level pooled analysis of phase III studies

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The prevalence and pathophysiological background of type 2 diabetes mellitus vary across ethnicities, and can affect treatment responses. Adding lixisenatide to basal insulin (BI) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients has shown improvements in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and postprandial glycemic (PPG) excursions, without increasing hypoglycemic events. We aim to compare the efficacy of lixisenatide in Asian and white patients inadequately controlled with basal insulin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An individual‐level pooled analysis of two multi‐national phase III studies, GetGoal‐L and GetGoal‐L‐C, was carried out to assess the efficacy of lixisenatide versus placebo as an add‐on treatment to BI ± metformin in Asian and white patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Change in HbA1c, 2‐h PPG and PPG excursion were analyzed, along with possible predictors of glycemic control. RESULTS: Pooled data showed that baseline characteristics were similar between Asian and white patients with the exception of bodyweight, body mass index and BI dose being higher in white patients. After 24 weeks, lixisenatide reduced HbA1c in both ethnic groups, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (Asian patients least squares mean difference −0.49, 95% confidence interval −0.68 to − 0.30 and white patients least squares mean difference −0.45, 95% confidence interval −0.63 to − 0.26; P = 0.6287). Similarly, no significant difference was found in 2‐h PPG reduction between both groups (least squares mean difference for Asian vs white patients: −3.37 vs −3.93; P = 0.3203). Treatment with lixisenatide contributed to HbA1c reduction of −0.56% after adjustment of baseline HbA1c level in Asian patients, and −0.41% in white patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adding lixisenatide to BI significantly reduced HbA1c and 2‐h PPG levels in both Asian and white participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus. No differences in treatment effect were observed between the two populations.