New GLP-1 agonist boasts cost benefit

摘要

A THIRD glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist, lixisenatide (Lyxumia), was launched by Sanofi in London this week. The injection is licensed for use in combination with oral antidiabetic medicines or basal insulin, or both, when control of blood glucose levels has not been achieved in patients with type 2 diabetes. Like liraglutide (Victoza), a GLP-1 agonist launched in 2009, lixisenatide requires once-daily injection. However, according to Anthony Barnett, emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Birmingham, the new drug has a different activity profile, with a more profound lowering effect on post-prandial glucose.