Roche diabetes trial proves promising
pharmafile | February 11, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | GLP-1, Roche, diabetes, taspoglutide
Phase III results for Roche’s once-weekly injectable drug taspoglutide have shown a positive effect on reducing blood glucose compared with other treatments for diabetes.
The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) was tested against current standards of care as well as evaluating its effect in patients whose diabetes is not controlled by diet and exercise alone.
Evaluated across five studies in the T-emerge programme, taspoglutide met its primary end-points of reduction in blood glucose (blood sugar) with a minimal risk of hypoglycaemia, and manageable safety profile, the company said.
“These phase III studies have shown that treatment with once-weekly taspoglutide leads to significantly improved blood glucose control, consistent weight loss, a minimal risk of hypoglycaemia, and manageable safety profile. We believe taspoglutide has the potential to become an important therapy for diabetic patients”, said Hal Barron, global head of product development at Roche.
Taspoglutide is similar to the naturally occurring human hormone GLP-1, which plays a key role in blood glucose metabolism through a range of mechanisms, including by slowing food absorption through the gut.
Roche licenced the drug from Ipsen in 2006, acquiring exclusive worldwide rights to develop and market taspoglutide, except in Japan where rights are shared with Teijin and in France where Ipsen may elect to retain co-marketing rights.
The results come several weeks after the approval of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 analogue once-daily injectable Victoza (liraglutide) by the FDA.
Meanwhile, Amylin and Lilly are currently collaborating on their own GLP-1 agonist Byetta LAR (exenatide), a once-weekly injectable that is still awaiting regulatory approval.
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