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OBJECTIVEWhen oral therapy for type 2 diabetes is ineffective, adding basal insulin improves glycemic control. However, when glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) remains elevated because of postprandial hyperglycemia, the next therapeutic step is controversial. We examined the efficacy and safety of lixisenatide in patients with HbA1c still elevated after initiation of insulin glargine.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis double-blind, parallel-group trial enrolled patients with HbA1c 7–10% despite oral therapy. Insulin glargine was added and systematically titrated during a 12-week run-in, after which candidates with fasting glucose ≤7.8 mmol/L and HbA1c 7–9% were randomized to lixisenatide 20 µg or placebo for 24 weeks while insulin titration continued. The primary end point was HbA1c change after randomization.RESULTSThe randomized population (n = 446) had mean diabetes duration of 9.2 years, BMI 31.8 kg/m2, and daily glargine dosage of 44 units. HbA1c had decreased during run-in from 8.6 to 7.6%; adding lixisenatide further reduced HbA1c by 0.71 vs. 0.40% with placebo (least squares mean difference, –0.32%; 95% CI, –0.46 to –0.17; P < 0.0001). More participants attained HbA1c <7% with lixisenatide (56 vs. 39%; P < 0.0001). Lixisenatide reduced plasma glucose 2 h after a standardized breakfast (difference vs. placebo –3.2 mmol/L; P < 0.0001) and had a favorable effect on body weight (difference vs. placebo –0.89 kg; P = 0.0012). Nausea, vomiting, and symptomatic hypoglycemia <3.3 mmol/L were more common with lixisenatide.CONCLUSIONSAdding lixisenatide to insulin glargine improved overall and postprandial hyperglycemia and deserves consideration as an alternative to prandial insulin for patients not reaching HbA1c goals with recently initiated basal insulin.

AimThe efficacy and safety of canagliflozin, a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, was evaluated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled with metformin and pioglitazone.MethodsIn this randomized, double-blind, phase 3 study, patients (N = 342) received canagliflozin 100 or 300 mg during a 26-week, placebo-controlled, core period and a 26-week, active-controlled extension in which placebo-treated patients were switched to sitagliptin 100 mg. Efficacy comparisons for canagliflozin versus placebo at week 26 are reported, with no comparisons versus sitagliptin at week 52 (sitagliptin used to maintain double-blind and control for safety). Safety data are reported for canagliflozin and placebo/sitagliptin.ResultsCanagliflozin 100 and 300 mg significantly lowered haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) compared with placebo at week 26 (−0.89%, −1.03% and −0.26%; p < 0.001); reductions with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg were maintained at week 52 (−0.92% and −1.03%). Relative to placebo, both canagliflozin doses significantly reduced body weight (−2.5 and −3.5 kg), fasting plasma glucose and systolic blood pressure (BP) at week 26 (p < 0.05 for all), with reductions maintained at week 52. Overall adverse event (AE) incidence over 52 weeks was 69.9, 76.3 and 76.5% with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg and placebo/sitagliptin; AE-related discontinuation and serious AE rates were low. Incidences of genital mycotic infections and AEs related to osmotic diuresis and volume depletion were higher with canagliflozin than placebo/sitagliptin.ConclusionCanagliflozin improved glycaemic control, reduced body weight and systolic BP, and was generally well tolerated in patients with T2DM on metformin and pioglitazone over 52 weeks.