Polyethylene glycol loxenatide injections added to metformin effectively improve glycemic control and exhibit favorable safety in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol loxenatide (PEX168) injections in Chinese type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients.

Methods: The present multicenter randomized double-blind parallel placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled patients who had been treated with a stable dose of metformin (≥1500 mg/day) for ≥12 weeks and had an HbA1c level between 7% and 11%. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (1: 1: 1) and were treated with once weekly subcutaneous injections of either placebo or 100 or 200 μg PEX168 for 12 weeks. All subjects continued to receive metformin daily.

Results: After 12 weeks treatment, the adjusted least-squares mean of HbA1c reductions from baseline values in the 100 and 200 μg PEX168 groups were significantly higher than in the placebo group (-1.02% [95% confidence interval {CI} -1.33, -0.71), -1.36% [95% CI -1.68, -1.04], and 0.13% [95% CI -0.20, 0.45], respectively; P < 0.05). After treatment, 50% and 60.5% of subjects in the 100 and 200 μg PEX168 groups, respectively, achieved HbA1c levels <7% (P < 0.01 for both vs placebo [HbA1c 11.1%]). The most frequent adverse reactions in the PEX168 groups were mild to moderate dose-dependent gastrointestinal reactions. There were no reports of hypoglycemia or pancreatitis in any of the groups.

Conclusions: Continuous 12 week treatment with PEX168 showed excellent safety and efficacy in T2D patients whose glucose was not well controlled with metformin alone.