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Pharmaceutical industry

BYDUREON: A Groundbreaking Once-Weekly Medication for Type 2 Diabetes Offers Powerful Glycemic Control

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The European Commission has granted marketing authorization to BYDUREON, a groundbreaking once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes. Developed by Eli Lilly and Company, along with Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Alkermes, Inc., BYDUREON is the first of its kind to deliver glycemic control in a single weekly dose. The medication has been shown to achieve statistically significant improvements in glycemic control, reducing A1C levels by 1.5 to 1.9 percent after six months.

Key Takeaways:

  • BYDUREON is the first once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes, offering a convenient and effective solution for patients struggling to manage their condition.
  • The medication has demonstrated powerful efficacy in multiple clinical trials, with significant reductions in A1C levels and improvements in glycemic control.
  • BYDUREON is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in combination with metformin, a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione, metformin plus a sulfonylurea, or metformin plus a thiazolidinedione.
  • The most common side effects with BYDUREON include mild-to-moderate nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, affecting approximately 20 percent of patients.
  • The medication has been shown to offer additional benefits, such as weight loss, with most patients losing weight while taking BYDUREON.
  • BYDUREON is based on proprietary technology for long-acting medications developed by Alkermes, Inc.
  • The medication is under regulatory review in the U.S. and has been approved in the EU in June 2011.

Statistics:

  • BYDUREON has demonstrated significant reductions in A1C levels, with a reduction of 1.5 to 1.9 percent after six months.
  • Over 60 percent of people with diabetes do not achieve their target blood sugar levels with their current treatment regimen (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).
  • Weight loss has been shown to support patients in their efforts to achieve and sustain glycemic control, with data indicating that even modest weight loss can have significant benefits (Source: Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes: a position statement of the American Diabetes Association).

Sources:

  • Eli Lilly and Company press release, June 2011.
  • Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. press release, June 2011.
  • Alkermes, Inc. press release, June 2011.
  • Diabetes Statistics. American Diabetes Association.
  • The International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas.
  • Direct and Indirect Costs of Diabetes in the United States. American Diabetes Association.
  • Saydah SH, Fradkin J and Cowie CC. Poor control of risk factors for vascular disease among adults with previously diagnosed diabetes. JAMA. 2004;291:335-42.
  • Bays HE, Chapman RH, Grandy S. The relationship of body mass index to diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidaemia: comparison of data from two national surveys. Int J Clin Pract. 2007;61:737-47.
  • Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes: a position statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care 2008; 31 Suppl 1; S61-78.
  • Anderson JW, Kendall CW, Jenkins DJ. Importance of weight management in type 2 diabetes: review with meta-analysis of clinical studies. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003;22:331-9.

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