Diabetes success for Sanofi, disappointment for Roche
pharmafile | February 2, 2011 | News story | | Roche, Sanofi, diabetes
The contrasting fortunes of two new diabetes became clear today, with Sanofi-Aventis lixisenatide performing well, as Roche abandoned taspoglutide.
Sanofi’s lixisenatide, a once daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, achieved its primary endpoint of non-inferiority in glucose reduction compared to Lilly’s Byetta (exenatide).
Sanofi’s head of diabetes research Pierre Chancel, said: “GetGoal-X, the first head-to-head study comparing lixisenatide with another GLP-1, demonstrates the efficacy of lixisenatide once-daily in reducing HbA1c in people with type II diabetes and also shows a better hypoglycemia profile.”
GetGoal-X studied 639 type II diabetes patients, compared once-daily lixisenatide versus twice-daily exenatide as add-on therapy for patients whose condition is inadequately controlled by metformin.
Novo Nordisk’s Victoza (liraglutide) reached the market in 2009 and has become a standard treatment for the disease alongside Byetta.
Sanofi’s lixisenatide is shaping up to rival both drugs as today’s update represents one of a number of trial successes for the drug.
Roche drops late stage diabetes drug
Roche has decided to return rights to GLP-1 analogue drug taspoglutide to Ipsen after disappointing phase III results.
The agreement allows Ipsen to the full body of data generated by Roche, but the French biotech company says it would not carry on development on its own, given the high cost involved.
The writing was already on the wall for the diabetes drug after clinical trials were suspended in September due to high instances of adverse side effects, including nausea and hypersensitivity.
Roche’s decision to return taspoglutide to Ipsen will see the French pharma gain around 41 million euros.
Ben Adams
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