FDA Approves Lixisenatide for Type 2 Diabetes

By Leslie Coplin, Executive Editor, AHC Media

The FDA approved lixisenatide (Adlyxin), a once-daily injection, to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. A glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, lixisenatide helps normalize blood sugar levels. The drug was evaluated in 10 clinical trials with 5,400 patients with type 2 diabetes, as both a standalone therapy and in combination with other FDA-approved diabetes medications, including metformin, sulfonylureas, pioglitazone, and basal insulin. In addition, lixisenatide was evaluated in a cardiovascular outcomes trial of more than 6,000 patients with type 2 diabetes who were at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The drug did not increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in these patients.

The September issue of Primary Care Reports will provide detailed information on lixisenatide, as well as other commonly prescribed medications for type 2 diabetes. This article will provide an in-depth review of medications that potentially can increase or decrease glucose levels, medications used for glycemic control, and medications used for various diabetes complication management.

Primary care physicians frequently encounter patients with various medical conditions, so they prescribe medications from many classes, according to Jay H. Shubrook, DO, FACOFP, FAAFP, Director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Services at Touro University, California College of Osteopathic Medicine, and coauthor of the medication review article in Primary Care Reports. “Primary care physicians may have questions with regard to which agent(s) in a particular medication class (i.e., atypical antipsychotics) might be a better to use for pre-diabetic or diabetes,“ Shubrook says. “In addition, some PCPs might not pay enough attention to diabetes complication management, specifically medications used for complication management (i.e., gastroparesis).”