Pharmacokinetic evaluation of fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease requiring individualized and often multi-faceted treatment plans. Balancing glycemic control with adverse medication side effects can be challenging. Combination therapy of basal insulin and GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy appears to provide a balance between glycemic efficacy, hypoglycemia and weight gain.

Areas covered: Available pharmacokinetic data, clinical trials and abstracts regarding fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide were reviewed. Literature was searched from PubMed and available abstracts using the search term IDegLira up to June 2016.

Expert opinion: Fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide is associated with sustained glucose-lowering effects as assessed by HbA1c reduction. Overall, hypoglycemia is reduced and weight loss is observed compared to basal insulin alone. There is no significant increase in gastrointestinal side-effects, including nausea compared to non-glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Pen injector delivery and dose-step titration allow for individualized therapy intensification. Combined treatment for type 2 diabetes with degludec and liraglutide therapy provides complementary therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes.

KEYWORDS:

• Degludec
• IDegLira
• liraglutide
• pharmacokinetics

Declaration of interest

SN Davis is a consultant for Sanofi. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.