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Diabetes once-weekly battle looms
Posted 17 August 2017
Results from a new head-to-head trial have set the stage for a battle between once-weekly injections to treat type 2 diabetes, with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide, Eli Lilly's Trulicity (dulaglutide) and AZ's Bydureon (exenatide) potentially fighting it out in Australia.
Semaglutide and Trulicity were pitted against each other in a phase III clinical trial, SUSTAIN 7, sponsored by Novo. It showed semaglutide topping the Lilly product in reducing glucose levels and body weight.
Though neither drug has reached the reimbursement stage in Australia, the trial signals a likely battle with AstraZeneca's Bydureon, currently the only once-weekly diabetes treatment listed on the PBS.
Semaglutide was filed in the EU and US last December with a US decision expected to come by the end of this year. If approved, the drug may make its way to Australia before 2018 is out, given that the TGA often follows major US approvalswith around a nine month time lag.
"We are excited about the potential of semaglutide to set a new standard of treatment of diabetes," Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, chief science officer of Novo, said.
Lilly's Trulicity was approved by the TGA in 2015, but the company has yet to seek reimbursement for the drug from the PBAC. Since its approval in the US, Trulicity has generated significant sales culminating with USD480 million worth in the second quarter of this year - half of Lilly's new product sales.
Currently, AstraZeneca's Bydureon (exenatide) is the only once-weekly injection PBS-listed to treat type 2 diabetes, however in overseas head-to-head trials it came out as less effective than Novo's once-daily medication Victoza (liraglutide). Trulicity managed to match the older treatment in a similar trial.
Bydureon went to the PBAC five times before being recommended for listing in 2015.
Yajun Ma
yajun.ma@lushmedia.com.au
Posted 17 August 2017
Results from a new head-to-head trial have set the stage for a battle between once-weekly injections to treat type 2 diabetes, with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide, Eli Lilly's Trulicity (dulaglutide) and AZ's Bydureon (exenatide) potentially fighting it out in Australia.
Semaglutide and Trulicity were pitted against each other in a phase III clinical trial, SUSTAIN 7, sponsored by Novo. It showed semaglutide topping the Lilly product in reducing glucose levels and body weight.
Though neither drug has reached the reimbursement stage in Australia, the trial signals a likely battle with AstraZeneca's Bydureon, currently the only once-weekly diabetes treatment listed on the PBS.
Semaglutide was filed in the EU and US last December with a US decision expected to come by the end of this year. If approved, the drug may make its way to Australia before 2018 is out, given that the TGA often follows major US approvalswith around a nine month time lag.
"We are excited about the potential of semaglutide to set a new standard of treatment of diabetes," Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, chief science officer of Novo, said.
Lilly's Trulicity was approved by the TGA in 2015, but the company has yet to seek reimbursement for the drug from the PBAC. Since its approval in the US, Trulicity has generated significant sales culminating with USD480 million worth in the second quarter of this year - half of Lilly's new product sales.
Currently, AstraZeneca's Bydureon (exenatide) is the only once-weekly injection PBS-listed to treat type 2 diabetes, however in overseas head-to-head trials it came out as less effective than Novo's once-daily medication Victoza (liraglutide). Trulicity managed to match the older treatment in a similar trial.
Bydureon went to the PBAC five times before being recommended for listing in 2015.
Yajun Ma
yajun.ma@lushmedia.com.au
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