Semaglutide Demonstrated Superior HbA1c Reduction vs Placebo as Add-on to Basal Insulin Alone or with Metformin in Adults with type 2 Diabetes

MUNICH, September 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

This material is intended for global medical media only. 

For journalistic assessment and preparation before publication. 

Novo Nordisk today announced that semaglutide, an investigational glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue administered once-weekly, significantly improved glycaemic control compared to placebo, as add-on to basal insulin alone or in combination with metformin, in adults with a mean type 2 diabetes duration of 13 years. Results from SUSTAIN 5 were presented today at the 52^nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2016.^[1]

The 30-week trial showed that, from a mean baseline HbA_1c of 8.4%, adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide achieved statistically significant and superior HbA_1c reductions of 1.4% and 1.8%, respectively, vs 0.1% reduction with placebo. In addition, more adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide achieved HbA_1c targets compared with placebo: HbA_1c <7% (61% and 79% vs 11%) and ≤6.5% (41% and 61% vs 5%).^[1]

Adults with type 2 diabetes treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide achieved superior weight loss vs placebo (3.7 kg and 6.4 kg vs 1.4 kg) from a mean baseline body weight of 91.7 kg.^[1]

"In the SUSTAIN 5 trial, we have seen that adding once-weekly semaglutide to basal insulin alone or in combination with metformin can help people with long-standing type 2 diabetes achieve glycaemic control and weight loss," said Dr Helena Rodbard, SUSTAIN 5 investigator and Medical Director at Endocrine and Metabolic Consultants, Rockville, Maryland. "As a treating physician, I am encouraged by these findings as many people with long-standing type 2 diabetes experience suboptimal glucose control and weight gain."

Adults treated with both doses of semaglutide demonstrated significantly greater reductions in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) vs placebo (1.6 mmol/L and 2.4 mmol/L vs 0.5 mmol/L), from a mean FPG baseline of 8.6 mmol/L. Furthermore, both semaglutide doses resulted in significant postprandial glucose reduction, measured as the postprandial increment of 7-point self-measured plasma glucose compared to placebo.^[1]

Adverse events were reported for 68.9% and 64.1% of adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide, respectively, and for 57.9% of adults treated with placebo. The rates of serious adverse events observed for adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide compared with placebo were 6.1% and 9.2% vs 6.8%. The proportion of adults treated with 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg semaglutide discontinuing due to adverse events were 4.5% and 6.1% vs 0.8% with placebo; the majority of discontinuations with semaglutide were due to gastrointestinal adverse events.^[1]

About semaglutide    

Semaglutide is a once-weekly investigational analogue of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that stimulates insulin and suppresses glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, while decreasing appetite and food intake.^[2] With SUSTAIN 6, semaglutide administered subcutaneously once-weekly has completed six phase 3a clinical trials for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.

About SUSTAIN 5    

SUSTAIN 5 is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group and multi-national trial investigating the safety and efficacy of semaglutide, administered once-weekly, vs placebo both as add-on to basal insulin alone or basal insulin in combination with metformin in 397 adults with a mean type 2 diabetes duration of 13.3 years. The primary end point was change in HbA_1c from baseline after 30 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints included change in body weight from baseline after 30 weeks of treatment. The trial was conducted in the US, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Slovakia.

About the SUSTAIN clinical programme    

SUSTAIN (Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes) is a clinical programme for semaglutide, administered once-weekly, that comprises six phase 3a global clinical trials encompassing more than 7,000 adults with type 2 diabetes as well as two Japanese trials encompassing around 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes.

About Novo Nordisk   

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious chronic conditions: haemophilia, growth disorders and obesity. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 42,300 people in 75 countries and markets its products in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com,  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

Further Information
Media: 
Katrine Sperling
+45-4442-6718
krsp@novonordisk.com 

Åsa Josefsson
+45-3079-7708
aajf@novonordisk.com 

Investors:
Peter Hugreffe Ankersen
+45-3075-9085
phak@novonordisk.com 

Melanie Raouzeos
+45-3075-3479
mrz@novonordisk.com 
 
Hannah Ögren
+45-3075-8519
haoe@novonordisk.com 

Kasper Veje (US)
+1-609-235-8567
kpvj@novonordisk.com 

References  

1. Rodbard, H, Lingvay, I, Reed, J et al. Efficacy and safety of semaglutide onceweekly vs placebo as addon to basal insulin alone or in combination with metformin in subjects with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 5). Poster number 766. European Association for the Study of Diabetes, Munich, Germany; 12-16 September 2016.

2. Nauck MA, Petrie JR, Sesti G, et al. A phase 2, randomized, dose-finding study of the novel once-weekly human GLP-1 analog, semaglutide, compared with placebo and open-label liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2015; 39:231-241.