Semaglutide once weekly as add-on to SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy in type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 9): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Semaglutide is a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue for type 2 diabetes. Few clinical trials have reported on the concomitant use of GLP-1 receptor agonists with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide when added to SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The SUSTAIN 9 double-blind, parallel-group trial was done at 61 centres in six countries (Austria, Canada, Japan, Norway, Russia, and the USA). Adults with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c 7·0-10·0% (53-86 mmol/mol), despite at least 90 days of treatment with an SGLT-2 inhibitor, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous semaglutide 1·0 mg or volume-matched placebo once weekly for 30 weeks, after a dose-escalation schedule of 4 weeks of 0·25 mg semaglutide or placebo and 4 weeks of 0·5 mg semaglutide or placebo. Existing antidiabetic medications, including SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment, were continued for the duration of the trial. Rescue medication, defined as intensification of background antidiabetic treatment or the initiation of new glucose-lowering medications, could be given to patients meeting specific criteria at the discretion of the investigator. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c from baseline at week 30, assessed in the full analysis set (all patients randomly allocated to treatment) using on-treatment data collected before rescue medication was started. The confirmatory secondary outcome was change in bodyweight from baseline to week 30. Safety was also assessed in the safety analysis set (all patients who received at least one dose of treatment). The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03086330). FINDINGS: Between March 15, and Dec 4, 2017, 302 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive semaglutide 1·0 mg or placebo (full analysis set), of whom 301 received at least one dose of treatment (safety analysis set). One patient was assigned to semaglutide but was not treated (reason unknown). 294 (97·4%) patients completed the trial and 267 (88·4%) completed treatment. Baseline characteristics were generally comparable between groups. In addition to randomised medication and SGLT-2 inhibitor, 216 (71·5%) patients were taking metformin and 39 (12·9%) were taking sulphonylurea. Patients given semaglutide had greater reductions in HbA1c (estimated treatment difference -1·42% [95% CI -1·61 to -1·24]; -15·55 mmol/mol [-17·54 to -13·56]) and bodyweight (-3·81 kg [-4·70 to -2·93]) versus those randomised to placebo (both p<0·0001). 356 adverse events were reported by 104 (69·3%) patients in the semaglutide group, and 247 adverse events were reported by 91 (60·3%) patients in the placebo group. Gastrointestinal adverse events were most common and were reported in 56 (37·3%) patients in the semaglutide group and 20 (13·2%) in the placebo group. Serious adverse events occurred in seven (4·7%) patients in the semaglutide group and six (4·0%) in the placebo group. Severe or blood glucose-confirmed hypoglycaemic events were reported in four patients on semaglutide (2·7%). 16 patients stopped treatment early because of an adverse event, 13 of whom were in the semaglutide group. There were no deaths during the trial. INTERPRETATION: Adding semaglutide to SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy significantly improves glycaemic control and reduces bodyweight in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes, and is generally well tolerated. FUNDING: Novo Nordisk.

Efficacy and Safety of Secukinumab in Elderly Subjects with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis: A Pooled Analysis of Phase III Studies.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, affecting patients of a wide age range, including elderly patients. Elderly patients can respond differently to drug treatments and can be more vulnerable to adverse reactions. There are limited data on biologic therapies for psoriasis in elderly subjects. Secukinumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively neutralizes IL-17A, has proven significant efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. AIMS: A post-hoc analysis of three phase III trials (ERASURE, FIXTURE and CLEAR) was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of secukinumab in elderly subjects. METHODS: Studies were multicentre, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, 52-week phase III trials in subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. For efficacy analyses, 67 elderly subjects (≥ 65 years) treated with secukinumab 300 mg were compared with 841 younger subjects (18-64 years). Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) and safety were analysed. RESULTS: Elderly subjects had higher baseline frequencies of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Secukinumab efficacy in elderly subjects was comparable to that in younger subjects throughout 52 weeks of treatment. PASI 75 response was reached by 81.8% of elderly subjects and 79.4% of younger subjects at Week 52. Similar rates of DLQI 0/1 response were observed. The total rate of adverse events was similar between elderly and younger subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Secukinumab at the recommended dose (300 mg) is effective and acceptably safe in subjects aged ≥ 65 years with moderate to severe psoriasis, with quality-of-life benefits, despite an increased prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities in this population.

Factors that may Account for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with a Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor, Vildagliptin, in Young Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: In a meta-analysis, we observed a significant 37% relative risk reduction in prospectively adjudicated major adverse cardiac events [MACEs, comprising of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, cardiovascular (CV) death] with vildagliptin vs. comparators in younger (< 65 years) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while the risk was similar in older patients (≥ 65 years). We carried out an exploratory analysis to identify the patient characteristics and on-treatment effects that may have contributed to the different outcomes in the two age groups. METHODS: On-treatment differences (vildagliptin vs. comparators) for the change from baseline in CV risk factors were analyzed using an analysis of covariance model with the baseline value for each variable of interest, treatment and study as covariates. Additional adjustments for background antihypertensive and statin use were performed when analyzing changes in blood pressure and lipids, respectively. Baseline characteristics and patient demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Patients aged < 65 years had shorter diabetes duration (4.4 vs. 8.2 years) and slightly higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at baseline (8.3% vs. 8.0%) than patients aged ≥ 65 years. More patients in the  ≥ 65 year age group had hypertension (73.1% vs. 51.3%), dyslipidemia (53.3% vs. 43.9%) and a history of CV events (32.2% vs. 12.9%). There were small, but statistically significant differences in the change in HbA1c and total cholesterol in favor of vildagliptin relative to comparators, which were similar in both age groups. Significant differences were observed in the reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (- 0.52 mmHg; 95% CI - 0.97, - 0.07; p = 0.023), low-density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) (- 0.12 mmol/l; 95% CI - 0.19, - 0.04; p = 0.002) and weight (- 0.48 kg; 95% CI - 0.95, - 0.01; p < 0.047) in patients < 65 years, but not in patients ≥ 65 years. The incidence of hypoglycemic events was lower in patients treated with vildagliptin [2.1 and 3.5 per 100 subject years exposure (SYEs) in < 65 and ≥ 65 years, respectively] than with comparators (5.8 and 7.5 per 100 SYEs, respectively). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, it can be hypothesized that the positive effects of vildagliptin on SBP, LDL cholesterol, hypoglycemia and weight observed in younger, but not in older patients could be associated with the lower risk of MACE in younger patients with T2DM. FUNDING: Novartis.

Efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Asian patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: 52-week pooled results from two phase 3 studies.

AIM: To evaluate efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Asian patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) via a pooled subgroup analysis from two phase 3 studies, MEASURE 1 (NCT01358175) and MEASURE 2 (NCT01649375). METHODS: In MEASURE 1, patients were randomized to intravenous secukinumab 10 mg/kg or placebo at baseline, Weeks 2 and 4, followed by subcutaneous (s.c.) secukinumab 150 mg, 75 mg or placebo every 4 weeks (q4w) at Week 8. In MEASURE 2, patients were randomized to s.c. secukinumab 150 mg, 75 mg or placebo at baseline, Weeks 1, 2 and 3, and q4w starting at Week 4. Efficacy outcomes were SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) 20/40, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), ASAS5/6, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Short Form-36 physical component summary, AS quality of life (QoL), ASAS partial remission, and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score - CRP at Weeks 16 and 52. Due to lack of efficacy, the secukinumab 75 mg dose in MEASURE 2 was excluded from this pooled Asian subgroup analysis. Safety analysis included patients who received ≥ 1 dose of study treatment. RESULTS: Of 517 patients enrolled into the MEASURE studies, 69 (13.3%) were Asians: 46 in pooled secukinumab and 23 in placebo. At Week 16, ASAS20/40 responses in Asian patients were 69.6%/43.5% with pooled secukinumab versus 26.1%/17.4% with placebo, which were comparable with rates reported in the overall study population. Secukinumab improved predefined efficacy endpoints at Week 16, with responses sustained through Week 52. Secukinumab was well tolerated in Asian patients, with a safety profile consistent with that reported in the overall study population. CONCLUSION: Secukinumab improved signs and symptoms, physical function, and disease-specific QoL in Asian patients with active AS.

DPP-4 inhibitor treatment: ß-cell response but not HbA1c reduction is dependent on the duration of diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors reduce hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by enhancing insulin and suppressing glucagon secretion. Since T2DM is associated with progressive loss of ß-cell function, we hypothesized that the DPP-4 inhibitor action to improve ß-cell function would be attenuated with longer duration of T2DM. METHODS: Data from six randomized, placebo-controlled trials of 24 weeks duration, where ß-cell response to vildagliptin 50 mg twice daily was assessed, were pooled. In each study, the insulin secretory rate relative to glucose (ISR/G 0-2h) during glucose load (standard meal or oral glucose tolerance test) was assessed at baseline and end of study. The mean placebo-subtracted difference (PSD) in the change in ISR/G 0-2h from baseline for each study was evaluated as a function of age, duration of T2DM, baseline ISR/G 0-2h, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, body mass index, and mean PSD in the change in HbA1c from baseline, using univariate model. RESULTS: There was a strong negative association between the PSD in the change from baseline in ISR/G 0-2h and duration of T2DM (r= -0.89, p<0.02). However, there was no association between the PSD in the change from baseline in ISR/G 0-2h and the PSD in the change from baseline in HbA1c (r=0.33, p=0.52). None of the other characteristics were significantly associated with mean PSD change in ISR/G 0-2h. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the response of the ß-cell, but not the HbA1c reduction, with vildagliptin is dependent on duration of T2DM. Further, it can be speculated that glucagon suppression may become the predominant mechanism via which glycemic control is improved when treatment with a DPP-4 inhibitor, such as vildagliptin, is initiated late in the natural course of T2DM.

Does the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with the DPP-4 inhibitor vildagliptin reduce HbA1c to a greater extent in Japanese patients than in Caucasian patients?

BACKGROUND: Previous work suggests that Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may respond more favorably to a DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) inhibitor than Caucasians. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the DPP-4 inhibitor vildagliptin (50 mg twice daily [bid]) between Japanese and Caucasian populations. METHODS: This analysis pooled data from 19 studies of drug-naïve patients with T2DM who were treated for 12 weeks with vildagliptin 50 mg bid as monotherapy. The pool comprised Japanese patients (n=338) who had been treated in Japan and Caucasian patients (n=1,275) who were treated elsewhere. Change from baseline (Δ) in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at 12 weeks (in millimoles per mole) versus baseline HbA1c (both in percentage National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program units [NGSP%] and millimoles per mole) for each population was reported. Universal HbA1c in millimoles per mole was calculated from either the Japanese Diabetes Society or the NGSP% HbA1c standards. RESULTS: At baseline, mean values for Japanese and Caucasian patients, respectively, were as follows: age, 59 years and 56 years; % male, 69% and 57%. The average HbA1c was reduced from 7.90% to 6.96% (Japanese Diabetes Society) and from 8.57% to 7.50% (United States National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program), while HbA1c was reduced from 63 mmol/mol to 53 mmol/mol and from 70 mmol/mol to 58 mmol/mol in Japanese and Caucasians, respectively. ΔHbA1c increased with increasing baseline in both populations. The slopes were the same (0.41, r (2)=0.36; and 0.41, r (2)=0.15), and the intercepts were 15.4 mmol/mol and 17.2 mmol/mol, respectively. In Japanese patients, mean ΔHbA1c was greater by 1.7 mmol/mol (0.2% NGSP HbA1c) at any given baseline HbA1c than in Caucasians (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: The present pooled analysis suggests that Japanese patients respond better to vildagliptin treatment compared with Caucasians. However, when glycemic control was corrected by using the same glycemic standard, the difference in HbA1c reduction between these populations was not clinically meaningful.

Comparison of aliskiren/hydrochlorothiazide combination therapy and amlodipine monotherapy in patients with stage 2 systolic hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Patients with stage 2 hypertension and diabetes are at high cardiovascular risk and require large blood pressure (BP) reductions to reach treatment goals. This randomized double-blind study compared aliskiren/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combination therapy with amlodipine monotherapy in 860 patients with mean sitting systolic BP (msSBP) ≥160 mm Hg to <200 mm Hg and type 2 diabetes. Patients received either once-daily aliskiren/HCTZ 150/12.5 mg or amlodipine 5 mg for 1 week then force-titrated to double the doses for 7 weeks. Baseline BP was 167.7/91.4 mm Hg. At week 8 end point, aliskiren/HCTZ provided significantly greater reductions in msSBP than amlodipine (28.8 mm Hg vs 26.2 mm Hg; P<.05). Mean sitting diastolic BP reductions were similar with aliskiren/HCTZ (9.9 mm Hg) and amlodipine (9.0 mm Hg). Achievement of BP control (<130/80 mm Hg) was significantly greater with aliskiren/HCTZ (23.2%) than amlodipine (13.8%; P<.0001). Aliskiren/HCTZ provides substantial msSBP reductions and greater BP control rates than amlodipine, and offers an attractive treatment option for patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.