Eli Lilly reports new study results for Byetta

Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals have reported new results from a 24-week study of their monotherapy Byetta injection which shows significant improvements in glucose control and weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Study participants took either 5mcg or 10mcg of Byetta twice daily and demonstrated reductions in A1C (average blood sugar over three months) by 0.7 and 0.9 per cent from a baseline ranging from 7.8 to 7.9 per cent.

In addition, 60 per cent of patients had an A1C of seven per cent or less – a common target for good glucose control.

The companies also reported a low incidence of nausea with approximately three and 13 per cent of patients experiencing sickness in the 5mcg and 10mcg arms respectively.

James Malone, global medical director at Eli Lilly, confirmed that the American Diabetes Association’s clinical guidelines for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes are to achieve target glucose control and weight loss in overweight patients.

“These data are robust and are consistent with data from other trials that support the use of Byetta before starter insulin,” he added.

The companies have stated their plan to submit a regulatory application to the US Food and Drug Administration in early 2008.

Earlier this month, Lilly announced that, together with corporate partners BD and Bayer Diabetes Care, it would sponsor a new four-year initiative to address the needs of over 40 million diabetes sufferers in India.