A randomized, double‐blind trial assessing the efficacy and safety of two doses of dulaglutide in Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes ( AWARD‐JPN )

Abstract Aim To assess the efficacy and safety of dulaglutide 1.5 mg versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg in Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods A Phase 3, multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group study was conducted in Japanese participants aged ≥20 years, with T2D for ≥6 months and inadequate glycaemic control, while on a single oral antihyperglycaemic medication (NCT04809220). The primary objective was to evaluate superiority of dulaglutide 1.5 mg versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg measured by mean change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to 26 weeks. Other efficacy and safety endpoints were evaluated at 26 and 52 weeks. All statistical analyses were conducted using the intention‐to‐treat population. Results Overall, 591 participants were randomized to once‐weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg or 0.75 mg. At Week 26, dulaglutide 1.5 mg was superior to dulaglutide 0.75 mg in HbA1c reduction from baseline (least squares mean [LSM] difference −0.29% [95% confidence interval {CI} −0.43, −0.14]). At Week 52, the dulaglutide 1.5‐mg arm had a significantly greater proportion of participants who achieved HbA1c <7.0% (46.3% vs. 38.5%; p = 0.03) and showed significantly greater reduction in fasting serum glucose (LSM difference −9.4 mg/dL [95% CI −14.4, −4.3]; p < 0.001) versus the dulaglutide 0.75‐mg arm. No statistically significant change in body weight was observed in either treatment arm. Overall, 442 participants (75.4%) experienced treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Constipation (11.3%), diarrhoea (9.6%) and pyrexia (9.0%) were the most commonly reported TEAEs. Conclusions Dulaglutide 1.5 mg once weekly demonstrated superior glycaemic control versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg once weekly, with comparable safety and tolerability, in Japanese people with T2D.