AstraZeneca reports positive new Bydureon clinical trial data

AstraZeneca has announced the publication of clinical trial data showing the glycaemic control benefits of Bydureon, its approved therapy for type 2 diabetes.

New research published in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology shows that Bydureon can achieve better glycaemic control with weight loss and less hypoglycaemia compared to treatment with insulin glargine over three years.

Data from the Duration-3 trial – which was the longest prospective trial of a long-acting GLP-1 with a comparator group maintained throughout the study duration – showed overall annual rates of hypoglycaemic events per patient were three times lower in those given Bydureon once-weekly compared to insulin glargine.

Further findings showed AstraZeneca's drug was able to improve patients' quality of life, resulting in better self-esteem, sexual lives and physical function.

Lisa Anson, president for AstraZeneca in the UK and Ireland, said: "Bydureon is a central part of our innovative and versatile diabetes portfolio and is key to our commitment to advancing individualised management and improving outcomes for patients."

Diabetes is a key focus area for the company, as underlined by its decision to buy out Bristol-Myers Squibb's stake in the organisations' diabetes partnership earlier this year.