Sanofi reports positive data from new diabetes drug trial

Sanofi has reported data from the LixiLan-O phase III clinical trial, which has met its primary objective in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin.

The study evaluated the performance of a fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine and lixisenatide compared to both therapies individually. Sanofi's therapy demonstrated a statistically superior reduction in blood sugar levels.

This came as part of the wider LixiLan clinical development programme. It also includes the ongoing LixiLan-L trial, which is assessing the efficacy and safety of a once-daily single injection of the fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine and lixisenatide versus insulin glargine alone.

Currently, regulatory submissions are planned for Q4 2015 in the US and Q1 2016 in the EU.

Dr Elias Zerhouni, president of global research and development at Sanofi, said: "We look forward to advancing the LixiLan program and bringing this combination of insulin glargine and lixisenatide to patients."

This comes after Sanofi received European regulatory approval for Toujeo, its new treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, earlier this year.