Lilly reports positive data from diabetes drug trials

Lilly has announced positive data from head-to-head trials that compared its new basal insulin peglispro (BIL) against an established diabetes therapy.

Results from the IMAGINE-1 and IMAGINE-3 phase III clinical studies have shown that Lilly's insulin product demonstrated statistically significant reductions in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels among type 1 diabetes patients compared to the alternative.

Moreover, patients in the IMAGINE-1 trial were able to continue treatment beyond 26 weeks, with the HbA1c superiority for BIL shown to be maintained at 52 and 78 weeks.

Phase III trials needed for regulatory submission of BIL are now complete for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They have demonstrated the drug's consistent superiority against comparators, and Lilly is on track to file for approval of the product by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

Enrique Conterno, president of Lilly Diabetes, said: "If approved, we believe BIL will be an important new basal insulin option for people with diabetes."

This comes after the firm received European approval for the new type 2 diabetes therapy Jardiance, developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, earlier this year.