Positive Ph III data for Trajenta in elderly type 2 diabetes patients

Elderly people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated for 24 weeks with the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor linagliptin, marketed by German family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim and US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) as Trajenta and Tradjenta, experienced significant reductions in blood glucose levels (HbA1c) compared with those receiving placebo.

In addition, according to a study published in The Lancet, the overall safety and tolerability profile of linagliptin was similar to placebo, with no significant difference in hypoglycemia. Tradjenta generated first-half sales of 200 million euros ($267 million) for the German firm.

“Elderly individuals comprise approximately 15% of people with type 2 diabetes; however, few glucose-lowering agents have been investigated in this group. This evidence gap hinders clinical decision-making as the risks and benefits of treatment may be unclear,” said Anthony Barnett, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, UK. “This study may inform treatment decisions for improving individualised glycemic goals in the elderly,” Prof Barnett noted.