Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization to BYETTA® (exenatide twice-daily) as an adjunctive therapy to basal insulin, with or without metformin and/or Actos® (pioglitazone), for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults who have not achieved adequate glycemic control with these agents.
"The marketing authorization for the use of BYETTA with basal insulin provides a new option for the many patients with type 2 diabetes who are not achieving treatment goals," said Christian Weyer, M.D., senior vice president, research and development, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. "In a clinical trial, patients using fixed-dose BYETTA with titrated basal insulin achieved better postprandial and overall glycemic control, without weight gain or an increased risk of hypoglycemia, compared to patients using titrated basal insulin without BYETTA."
The main study included in the EU marketing authorization submission package was a double-blind, 30-week clinical trial published in Annals of Internal Medicine.(1) In the study, BYETTA 10 micrograms or placebo was added to existing insulin glargine therapy (with or without metformin, pioglitazone or both), which was titrated to achieve target fasting glucose levels. At study entry, patients who may have been at increased risk of hypoglycemia (A1C less than or equal to 8 percent) reduced their dose of insulin glargine by 20 percent. Five weeks after randomization, all patients had insulin doses titrated to achieve target fasting glucose levels. The primary endpoint was reduction in A1C, a measure of average blood sugar over three months; secondary endpoints included change in body weight along with other parameters of glucose control, cardiovascular health, hypoglycemia and patient-reported outcomes.
After 30 weeks of treatment, BYETTA demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in A1C compared to placebo, lowering A1C by 1.7 percentage points from a baseline of 8.3 percent. Patients treated with optimized insulin glargine plus placebo experienced a 1.0 percentage point decrease in A1C from a baseline of 8.5 percent. Patients who added BYETTA to their insulin glargine regimen saw their weight decrease by an average of 4 pounds, compared with an increase of 2 pounds in patients who were treated with optimized insulin glargine plus placebo. BYETTA is not indicated for the management of obesity and weight loss was a secondary endpoint in the trial. Change in fasting glucose and hypoglycemia incidence were similar between treatment groups.
Thirteen BYETTA recipients and one placebo recipient (9 percent vs. 1 percent) discontinued the study because of adverse events (p less than 0.010); rates of nausea (41 percent vs. 8 percent), diarrhea (18 percent vs. 8 percent), vomiting (18 percent vs. 4 percent), headache (14 percent vs. 4 percent) and constipation (10 percent vs. 2 percent) were higher with BYETTA than with placebo. Major hypoglycemia occurred twice in one patient receiving insulin glargine without BYETTA.
In November 2011, Lilly and Amylin announced that they amicably terminated their decade-long collaboration. As part of the transition plan outside the U.S., Amylin will assume responsibility for exenatide product commercialization efforts on a market-by-market basis by the end of 2013. Amylin will work with Lilly on plans for markets outside the U.S. during the transition period. Amylin intends to provide uninterrupted patient supply in all markets where exenatide products are launched, as well as additional markets in the future. Both companies are committed to ensuring a seamless transition of global product responsibility to Amylin while maintaining continuity of patient care. Amylin anticipates working with one or more partners outside the U.S. in order to maximize the global potential of this innovative molecule and achieve greater operational flexibility and efficiency.
About Diabetes
Diabetes affects an estimated 347 million adults worldwide and nearly 26 million people in the U.S.(2),(3) Approximately 90-95 percent of those affected have type 2 diabetes. In the U.S., diabetes costs more than $174 billion per year in direct and indirect medical expenses.(4)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, approximately 60 percent of people with diabetes do not achieve their target blood sugar levels with their current treatment regimen.(5) In addition, 85 percent of type 2 diabetes patients are overweight and 55 percent are considered obese.(6) Data indicate that weight loss (even a modest amount) supports patients in their efforts to achieve and sustain glycemic control.(7),(8)
About BYETTA® (exenatide) injection
BYETTA was the first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. BYETTA exhibits many of the same effects as the human incretin hormone GLP-1. GLP-1 improves blood sugar after food intake through multiple effects that work in concert on the stomach, liver, pancreas and brain.
BYETTA is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, when used with a diet and exercise program. It can also be used with metformin, a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione or Lantus® (insulin glargine), which is a long-acting insulin.
BYETTA is not insulin and should not be taken instead of insulin. BYETTA should not be taken with short- and/or rapid-acting insulin. BYETTA is not for people with type 1 diabetes or people with diabetic ketoacidosis. BYETTA has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Other antidiabetic therapies should be considered for these patients.
About Amylin Pharmaceuticals
Amylin Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving lives of patients through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines. Amylin is committed to delivering novel therapies that transform the way diabetes and related metabolic disorders are treated. Amylin is headquartered in San Diego and has a commercial manufacturing facility in Ohio.
About Lilly
Through a long-standing commitment to diabetes care, Lilly provides patients with breakthrough treatments that enable them to live longer, healthier and fuller lives. Since 1923, Lilly has been the industry leader in pioneering therapies to help healthcare professionals improve the lives of people with diabetes, and research continues on innovative medicines to address the unmet needs of patients.
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.
BYETTA is a registered trademark of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other marks are the marks of their respective owners.
1. Buse JB, Bergenstal RM, Glass LC, et al. Use of twice-daily exenatide in basal insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154:103-112.
2. Danaei G, Finucane MM, Lu Y, et al. National, regional, and global trends in fasting plasma glucose and diabetes prevalence since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 370 country-years and 2.7 million participants. Lancet. 2011;DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60679-X.
3. Diabetes Statistics. American Diabetes Association. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/. Accessed March 22, 2012.
4. Direct and Indirect Costs of Diabetes in the United States. American Diabetes Association. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/how-to-help/action/resources/cost-of-diabetes.html. Accessed March 22, 2012.
5. Saydah SH, Fradkin J, Cowie CC. Poor control of risk factors for vascular disease among adults with previously diagnosed diabetes. JAMA. 2004;291:335-42.
6. Bays HE, Chapman RH, Grandy S. The relationship of body mass index to diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidaemia: comparison of data from two national surveys. Int J Clin Pract. 2007;61:737-47.
7. Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes: a position statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2008;31 Suppl 1;S61-78.
8. Anderson JW, Kendall CW, Jenkins DJ. Importance of weight management in type 2 diabetes: review with meta-analysis of clinical studies. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003;22:331-9.