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ISSUE 2 APRIL
Letters to the Editor

Dulaglutide efficacy

  • Alessandra Sandrini

Letters to the Editor

I would like to bring to your attention an issue related to the new drug comment on dulaglutide for type 2 diabetes.1

The conclusion, under the heading ‘Place in therapy’, states that ‘Dulaglutide appears to have a greater effect on HbA1c than exenatide’. The reference given is the AWARD-1 trial, which to date is the only head-to-head study comparing the efficacy and safety of dulaglutide with placebo and exenatide.2 However, in this trial the comparator was exenatide 10 microgram twice daily (not the once-weekly formulation of exenatide).

The article in its current form may mislead physicians to believe that dulaglutide was demonstrated to be superior to the two available formulations of exenatide. To accurately reflect the current evidence, the comment should have said that dulaglutide appears to have a greater effect on HbA1c than exenatide 10 microgram twice daily. At present there is no evidence indicating greater efficacy of dulaglutide versus exenatide once weekly.

Alessandra Sandrini
Associate medical director
Cardiovascular Renal and Metabolism, AstraZeneca, Sydney

 

References

  1. Dulaglutide for type 2 diabetes. Aust Prescr 2018;41:166-8.
  2. Wysham C, Blevins T, Arakaki R, Colon G, Garcia P, Atisso C, et al. Efficacy and safety of dulaglutide added onto pioglitazone and metformin versus exenatide in type 2 diabetes in a randomized controlled trial (AWARD-1). Diabetes Care 2014;37:2159-67.
 

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Dulaglutide for type 2 diabetes Aust Prescr 2018;41:166-8
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New drug
Dulaglutide for type 2 diabetes Aust Prescr 2018;41:166-8

Alessandra Sandrini

Associate medical director, Cardiovascular Renal and Metabolism, AstraZeneca, Sydney