Lilly reports positive trial data for diabetes drug Trulicity

Lilly has announced data from a new clinical study demonstrating the effectiveness of its diabetes drug Trulicity when used as an add-on therapy.

Results from the AWARD-8 study showed that Trulicity plus a sulfonylurea was significantly more effective than a sulfonylurea alone in lowering haemoglobin A1c levels from baseline after 24 weeks of treatment.

Trulicity is a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, designed for use in conjunction with diet and exercise.

As a secondary endpoint, Trulicity plus a sulfonylurea also showed a weight reduction from baseline, though the difference compared to sulfonylurea alone did not reach statistical significance.

Dr Jessie Fahrbach, medical director at Lilly Diabetes, said: "This data adds to the comprehensive body of evidence for Trulicity, reinforcing its value as a type 2 diabetes treatment option."

This comes after the firm expanded its immuno-oncology partnership with Merck Sharp and Dohme last month by agreeing to launch a phase III trial of a new lung cancer therapy.