Regular efpeglenatide use significantly reduces cardiorenal events in diabetics: AMPLITUDE O Trial

USA: Weekly injection of efpeglenatide has the potential to improve outcomes for high-risk diabetes patients with heart or kidney disease, shows findings from the AMPLITUDE O trial. Efpeglenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist drug (GLP-1 RA), is an injectable drug with glucose-and weight-lowering effects.

According to the study, the regular use of the glucose-reducing drug significantly reduced the first occurrence of heart attack, stroke, or death, and reduced the progression of kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients. 

The findings of the study were presented at the virtual 81st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The majority (98%) of adults with type 2 diabetes have at least one comorbid chronic condition, including cardiorenal conditions impacting the heart and kidney. In fact, 24% of people living with diabetes have kidney disease, 22% have cardiovascular disease, and 82% of people with diabetes have hypertension—a leading cause of heart disease.

Efpeglenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist drug (GLP-1 RA), a class of drug used to treat diabetes that reduces glucose levels, weight, and blood pressure. Earlier trials have shown that GLP-1 RA drugs based on human GLP-1 reduce cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. 

Hertzel C. Gerstein, Professor, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, and Deputy Director Population Health Research Institute in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues assessed the effects of a GLP-1 RA based on exendin-4 (animal GLP-1) either with or without an SGLT2 inhibitor drug in patients with cardiovascular and/or kidney disease. 

For this purpose, the researchers conducted the AMPLITUDE O trial conducted in 28 countries and included more than 4,000 participants with type 2 diabetes.

Over two years, patients assigned to weekly injections risk of a heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause. Similar effects were observed in the presence and absence of an SGLT2 inhibitor drug. There were no serious side effects.

"The AMPLITUDE O trial establishes efpeglenatide, an exendin-4 based GLP-1 RA, as an effective cardioprotective drug for type 2 diabetes patients with cardiovascular and/or kidney disease," said Hertzel C. Gerstein. "We are encouraged that this once-a-week injection, safely and effectively reduced cardiovascular and progression of kidney disease in patients with long-standing diabetes who had a high prevalence of cardiovascular and kidney disease."