Significant blood sugar improvement with Xultophy, besting Lantus as add-on therapy

Xultophy (insulin degludec and liraglutide injection) provided superior blood sugar reduction (HbA1c) compared to insulin glargine U-100 (1.94% versus 1.68% respectively; p<0.0001) when used as an add-on to an SGLT-2i (an oral diabetes medication), according to results from the DUAL IX study presented Saturday at the American Diabetes Association's 78th Scientific Sessions (ADA) in Orlando, USA, by Danish diabetes care giant Novo Nordisk (NOV: N). 1

Results from some of the secondary endpoints in DUAL IX included change from baseline in body weight, severe or blood glucose confirmed symptomatic hypoglycemic events and daily insulin dose at 26 weeks. Mean body weight remained unchanged in the Xultophy study group versus a 2.0 kg weight gain with insulin glargine U-100.

Treatment with Xultophydemonstrated a 58% lower rate of hypoglycaemia versus Sanofi’s Lantus (insulin glargine) U-100 (0.37 events/patient-year of exposure vs 0.90 events/patient-year of exposure respectively; p=0.0035). The average total daily insulin dose was significantly less with Xultophythan insulin glargine U-100 (36 units per day vs 54 units per day respectively; p<0.0001).