This analysis assessed the incidence and total events of hypoglycemia in VERTIS CV (NCT01986881) , the cardiovascular (CV) outcome trial for ertugliflozin (ERTU) in patients (pts) with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic CV disease.

Hypoglycemia was categorized as level 1, a documented symptomatic event with plasma glucose (PG) ≤70 mg/dL (prespecified) ; level 2, a documented event with PG <54 mg/dL (post hoc) ; level 3, a severe event requiring assistance (prespecified) . Time to first HYPO-broad (levels 1+2+3) and HYPO-strict (levels 2+3) were analyzed by a Cox proportional hazards model. Kaplan-Meier estimates were plotted. Exposure-adjusted event rates for total (first + recurrent) HYPO-broad and -strict were analyzed.

Overall, 8246 pts were randomized, mean follow-up was 3.5 yrs. The incidence rate (ERTU vs PBO) of first HYPO-broad was 14.3 vs. 16.2/100 pt-yrs; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 95% CI: 0.93 [0.85, 1.00] and HYPO-strict was 9.5 vs. 11.1/100 pt-yrs; aHR: 0.89 [0.81, 0.97] [Figure A]. Exposure-adjusted event rates were lower in ERTU vs PBO [Figure B]. The increase in percentage of insulin users (end of study vs. baseline) was less with ERTU (3.5% 5 + 15 mg) compared with PBO (6.2%) .

In VERTIS CV, pts randomized to ERTU had a lower risk of hypoglycemia, including first and recurrent events, than PBO-treated pts. This may in part be due to the lesser increase in insulin users with ERTU vs. PBO.

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Disclosure

S.Dagogo-jack: Consultant; AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medtronic, Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi. R.E.Pratley: Other Relationship; Bayer AG, Corcept Therapeutics, Dexcom, Inc., Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Metavention, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Poxel SA, Sanofi, Scohia Pharma Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. C.P.Cannon: Advisory Panel; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Amarin Corporation, Amgen Inc., Amryt Pharma Plc, Applied Therapeutics, Ascendis Pharma A/S, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc., Rhoshan, Sanofi, Research Support; Amgen Inc., Better Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc. D.Cherney: Other Relationship; AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Lilly, Maze, BMS, CSL-Behring, Merck, Otsuka, Novartis and Novo-Nordisk , Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Sanofi, Research Support; Boehringer Ingelheim-Lilly, Merck, Janssen, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Novo-Nordisk. F.Cosentino: Advisory Panel; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Pfizer Inc., Speaker's Bureau; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk. D.K.Mcguire: Consultant; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, CSL Behring, ESPERION Therapeutics, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lilly, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi. J.Liu: Employee; Merck & Co., Inc. C.Liu: Employee; Merck & Co., Inc., Stock/Shareholder; Merck & Co., Inc. R.Frederich: Employee; Pfizer Inc., Stock/Shareholder; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Pfizer Inc. J.P.Mancuso: Employee; Pfizer Inc., Stock/Shareholder; Pfizer Inc.

Funding

This study was sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA.

© 2022 by the American Diabetes Association
2022
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