A randomized trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of once-daily liraglutide 1.8 mg in Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes exhibiting an inadequate response to liraglutide 0.9 mg.

Aims/introduction: The present trial compared the efficacy and safety of once-daily liraglutide 1.8 mg with liraglutide 0.9 mg in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes to assess the incremental effects of liraglutide 1.8 mg in those who exhibited an inadequate response to 0.9 mg.

Materials And Methods: This 26-week randomized trial (NCT02505334) enrolled Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes across 47 sites in Japan. Participants with glycated hemoglobin (HbA ) 7.5-10.0% were included and those on insulin treatment were excluded. Participants discontinued pre-trial oral antidiabetic drug and initiated liraglutide 0.9 mg for a 12-week run-in period, after which those with HbA ≥7.0% (466) were randomized (1:1) to two treatment arms: continuing liraglutide 0.9 mg or dose escalation to 1.8 mg. The change from baseline in HbA (primary endpoint) and treatment-emergent adverse events (secondary endpoint) were measured at the end of 26 weeks.

Results: After 26 weeks of treatment, liraglutide 1.8 mg was more effective compared with 0.9 mg in lowering HbA levels, with an estimated treatment difference of -0.40% (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.55, -0.24; P < 0.0001). Liraglutide 1.8 mg was associated with significantly greater odds of participants reaching HbA <7.0% (estimated odds ratio [EOR] 3.87; 95% CI 2.12, 7.08; P < 0.0001) and ≤6.5% (EOR 3.78; 95% CI 1.36, 10.54; P = 0.0109) compared with 0.9 mg. Both doses were well tolerated.

Conclusions: Liraglutide 1.8 mg had better efficacy in improving HbA levels after 26 weeks treatment vs 0.9 mg in Japanese patients, with both doses well tolerated.