Efficacy and safety of fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide (IDegLira) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive disease with increasing prevalence in most countries. The majority of patients with T2D have inadequate glycaemic control, which increases the risk of diabetic complications later in life. New therapies with improved safety profiles are required to tackle the progressive nature of T2D.

Areas covered: The efficacy and safety profile of IDegLira – a once-daily, fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), for the treatment of T2D – has been extensively evaluated. IDegLira’s phase 3 clinical trial programme builds upon the clinical programmes of its mono-components, and their cardiovascular outcomes trials. The results are described here, focusing on different patient populations and compared with alternative insulin regimens.

Expert opinion: IDegLira provides superior glycaemic control and mitigates the primary adverse effects associated with insulin therapy (weight gain and hypoglycaemia) and GLP-1RAs (gastrointestinal side effects) with no indication of additive effects. Accordingly, co-formulations such as IDegLira are likely to be increasingly preferred over stepwise addition and titration of the individual agents in the management of T2D.

KEYWORDS:

• DUAL
• glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist
• IDegLira
• insulin
• insulin degludec
• liraglutide
• safety
• type 2 diabetes

Declaration of interest

FK Knop is on the advisory panel of, a member of the speakers’ bureau for, has consulted for and/or has received research support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Fractyl, Gilead Sciences, Gubra, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Zealand Pharma. T Vilsboll is on the advisory panel of, a member of the speakers’ bureau for, has consulted for and/or has received research support from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Takeda. Medical writing and submission support were provided by Victoria Atess and Daria Renshaw of Watermeadow Medical, an Ashfield company, part of UDG Healthcare plc. This support was funded by Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk reviewed this manuscript for medical accuracy only. 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 funded by Novo Nordisk.