Efpeglenatide (EFPEG) is a long-acting GLP-1 RA, administered by once-weekly (QW) subcutaneous injection, currently being developed to improve glycemic control in patients with T2D. EXCEED 203 (NCT02057172), a 12-week study of EFPEG (0.3, 1, 2, 3, or 4 mg QW) compared with placebo (PBO) and referenced to open-label liraglutide 1.8 mg in uncontrolled T2D (naïve/metformin monotherapy), found significantly improved HbA1c for all doses of EFPEG ≥1 mg, and reductions in body weight for EFPEG 3 and 4 mg. This exploratory subanalysis investigated any potential relationship between glycemic control and weight loss effects observed in EXCEED 203. At all EFPEG doses ≥1 mg and in two combined populations (low-dose group: EFPEG 1 and 2 mg; high-dose group: EFPEG 3 and 4 mg) vs. PBO, greater proportions of patients significantly achieved the composite endpoint of HbA1c <7% and weight loss >3 kg (p<0.05 for all; Table). Linear regression analysis revealed no correlation between change in HbA1c and change in body weight throughout the study for all EFPEG doses ≥1 mg. EFPEG was well tolerated with adverse events mirroring those known for GLP-1 RAs.

In conclusion, EFPEG was associated with greater proportions of patients achieving the composite endpoint of HbA1c <7% and weight loss >3 kg vs. PBO without evidence that the glucose-lowering effects of EFPEG were dependent on weight loss.
Disclosure

J. Rosenstock: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Melior Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bukwang Pharm. Co., Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Oramed Pharmaceuticals, PegBio Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc. Other Relationship; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. C. Morales: Other Relationship; Self; AstraZeneca, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. U. Wendisch: Advisory Panel; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Kowa Pharmaceutical Europe Co. Ltd., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S. G.E. Dailey: Research Support; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi US. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Sanofi US. M.E. Trautmann: Consultant; Self; CeQur Corporation, Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Oramed Pharmaceuticals, ProSciento, Servier. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Lilly Diabetes. M. Hompesch: Stock/Shareholder; Self; ProSciento. I. Choi: Employee; Self; Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd. J. Kang: Employee; Self; Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd. J.A. Stewart: Employee; Self; Sanofi. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Sanofi. I. Ogbaa: Stock/Shareholder; Self; Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Other Relationship; Self; Sanofi. C.H. Sorli: Employee; Self; Sanofi. K. Yoon: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Funding

Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Co., Ltd.; Sanofi

Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. More information is available at http://www.diabetesjournals.org/content/license.