Oral diabetes drug Danuglipron achieves similar weight loss as Ozempic injection: JAMA

The oral drug from Pfizer led to a comparable amount of weight loss as the blockbuster Novo Nordisk's Ozempic injection. The drug could offer an advantage as an oral treatment rather than a frequent injection.

The phase 2 randomized clinical trial of 411 adults with T2D showed that danuglipron reduced glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight at week 16 compared with placebo. The most frequently reported adverse events are gastrointestinal.

Currently available GLP-1R (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor) agonists for T2D treatment are peptide agonists requiring subcutaneous administration or strict fasting requirements before and after oral administration.

Danuglipron, a small molecule GLP-1R agonist, is being investigated as an adjunct to exercise and diet to improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. In a phase 1 study, danuglipron reduced body weight and glycemic indexes with favourable safety and pharmacokinetic profiles in T2D patients. In a humanized mouse model, danuglipron stimulated glucose-dependent insulin release and suppressed food intake with the same effectiveness as injectable peptidic GLP-1R agonists.

Against the above background, Aditi R. Saxena from Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development and Medical in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and colleagues aimed to determine the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of multiple dose levels of the novel, oral, small molecule GLP-1R agonist danuglipron during 16 weeks.

Four hundred eleven patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by exercise and diet, with or without metformin treatment, were enrolled from 97 clinical research sites in 8 countries or regions. They received a placebo or danuglipron, 2.5, 10, 40, 80, or 120 mg, all administered twice daily with food for 16 weeks. Weekly dose escalation steps were integrated to achieve twice daily danuglipron doses of 40 mg or more.

The researchers determined a change from baseline in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c, primary endpoint), body weight, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were assessed at week 16. Throughout the study period, safety was monitored, including a 4-week follow-up period. Of 411 participants randomized and treated (mean age, 58.6 years; 51% were male), 77% completed treatment.

The authors reported the following findings:

• For all danuglipron doses, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c were statistically significantly reduced at week 16 vs placebo, with HbA1c reductions up to the least squares mean difference vs placebo of −1.16% for the 120-mg twice daily group and FPG reductions up to a least squares mean difference vs placebo of −33.24 mg/dL.
• At week 16, body weight was statistically significantly decreased compared with placebo in the 80-mg twice daily and 120-mg twice daily groups only, with the least squares mean difference vs placebo of −2.04 kg for the 80-mg twice daily group and −4.17 kg for the 120-mg twice daily group.
• The most commonly reported adverse events were vomiting, nausea, and diarrhoea.

"At week 16, danuglipron reduced fasting plasma glucose, body weight, and HbA1c compared with placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes, with a tolerability profile consistent with the mechanism of action," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Saxena AR, Frias JP, Brown LS, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Oral Small Molecule Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Danuglipron for Glycemic Control Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(5):e2314493. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14493