Liraglutide in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes: clinical data and practical considerations for its use

Abstract

Liraglutide is the first once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 analog available for use in clinical practice. It has recently been approved by the EMA and the US FDA for treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Initial approval is for use in combination with either metformin or a sulfonylurea, or in combination with metformin plus a sulfonylurea or thiazolidinedione. Liraglutide monotherapy is approved in the USA. Results from the Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes (LEAD) clinical trials program indicate that liraglutide significantly lowers glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) with a low risk of hypoglycemia. Liraglutide is also associated with significant and sustained weight loss, decreased systolic blood pressure, and improvements in other markers of cardiovascular risk. Liraglutide also shows strong potential to preserve β-cell function. Maximum benefits may be achieved when liraglutide treatment is initiated early on in the course of T2DM.

Keywords::

• GLP-1 analog
• glycemic control
• incretin
• liraglutide
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Francisco Javier Ampudia-Blasco has received honoraria as speaker and/or consultant from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, LifeScan, Lilly, Madaus, MannKind Corp., Medtronic, Menarini, Merck Farma y Química, SA, MSD, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Schering-Plough and Solvay. In addition, Francisco Javier Ampudia-Blasco has participated in clinical trials supported totally or partially by AstraZeneca, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Life-Scan, Lilly, MSD, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and Servier. 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.

Writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript. Medical writing support for this article was provided by Steve Clissold of Content’Ed Net and was funded by Novo Nordisk Pharma, S.A.