Efficacy and safety of an expanded dulaglutide dose range: A phase 2, placebo‐controlled trial in patients with type 2 diabetes using metformin

Abstract Aims Dulaglutide, a once weekly GLP‐1 receptor agonist, is approved at two doses (1.5 and 0.75 mg) for treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Two higher doses of dulaglutide (3.0 and 4.5 mg) were evaluated for safety and efficacy to determine whether these doses warrant further study for improved control of glucose and body weight. Materials and methods This 18‐week, double‐blind, phase 2 trial randomized 318 patients with T2D using ≥1500 mg metformin, to receive subcutaneous injection of placebo (n = 82), dulaglutide 1.5 mg (n = 81), dulaglutide 3.0 mg (n = 79) or dulaglutide 4.5 mg (n = 76). The primary objective was superiority of dulaglutide doses over placebo in reduction of HbA1c at 18 weeks. Secondary objectives included superiority of dulaglutide over placebo in change from baseline in body weight and fasting serum glucose (FSG) at 18 weeks. Investigational doses of dulaglutide were compared to the 1.5 mg dose as an exploratory objective. Results HbA1c reduction at 18 weeks was significantly greater with dulaglutide vs placebo (placebo, −0.44% ± 0.10% [−4.8 ± 1.1 mmol/mol]; dulaglutide 1.5 mg, −1.23% ± 0.10% [−13.5 ± 1.1 mmol/mol]; dulaglutide 3.0 mg, −1.31% ± 0.10% [−14.3 ± 1.1 mmol/mol]; dulaglutide 4.5 mg, −1.40% ± 0.10% [−15.3 ± 1.1 mmol/mol]; P < 0.001, each dose), as were changes in body weight (placebo, −1.6 ± 0.39 kg; dulaglutide 1.5 mg, −2.8 ± 0.39 kg; dulaglutide 3.0 mg, −3.9 ± 0.39 kg; dulaglutide 4.5 mg, −4.1 ± 0.41 kg; P < 0.001, each dose). All three dulaglutide doses significantly reduced FSG from baseline (1.5 mg, −36.2 ± 4.7 mg/dL [−2.0 ± 0.3 mmol/L]; 3.0 mg, −34.5 ± 4.5 mg/dL [−1.9 ± 0.3 mmol/L]; 4.5 mg, −38.0 ± 4.7 mg/dL [−2.1 ± 0.3 mmol/L]) vs placebo (−12.4 ± 4.5 mg/dL [−0.7 ± 0.3 mmol/L]) ( P < 0.001, all). Safety profiles of the higher doses were consistent with the established safety profile for dulaglutide. Gastrointestinal events were mostly mild to moderate, and was dose‐related for nausea. Conclusion All three dulaglutide doses were superior to placebo in improving glycaemic control and reducing body weight in participants with T2D using metformin. The potential for doses of dulaglutide of 3.0 and 4.5 mg to provide additional glycaemic benefit and weight reduction with an acceptable safety profile, compared with the 1.5 mg dose, warrants further study in a phase 3 trial.