Efficacy, Tolerability, and Safety of a Novel Once-Daily Extended-Release Metformin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
- Sherwyn Schwartz, MD1,
- Vivian Fonseca, MD, MRCP2,
- Bret Berner, PHD3,
- Marilou Cramer3,
- Yu-Kun Chiang, PHD3 and
- Andrew Lewin, MD4
- 1Diabetes and Glandular Disease Research Associates, San Antonio, Texas
- 2Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- 3Depomed, Menlo Park, California
- 4National Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Bret Berner, PhD, Depomed, 1360 O’Brien Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025. E-mail: bberner{at}depomedinc.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a novel extended-release metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Adults with type 2 diabetes (newly diagnosed, treated with diet and exercise only, or previously treated with oral diabetic medications) were randomly assigned to receive one of three extended-release metformin treatment regimens (1,500 mg/day q.d., 1,500 mg/day twice daily, or 2,000 mg/day q.d.) or immediate-release metformin (1,500 mg/day twice daily) in a double-blind 24-week trial.
RESULTS—Significant decreases (P < 0.001) in mean HbA1c (A1C) levels were observed by week 12 in all treatment groups. The mean changes from baseline to end point in the two groups given 1,500 mg extended-release metformin (−0.73 and −0.74%) were not significantly different from the change in the immediate-release metformin group (−0.70%), whereas the 2,000-mg extended-release metformin group showed a greater decrease in A1C levels (−1.06%; mean difference [2,000 mg extended-release metformin − immediate-release metformin]: −0.36 [98.4% CI −0.65 to −0.06]). Rapid decreases in fasting plasma glucose levels were observed by week 1, which continued until week 8, and were maintained for the duration of the study. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar for all treatment groups, but fewer patients in the extended-release metformin groups discontinued treatment due to nausea during the initial dosing period than in the immediate-release metformin group.
CONCLUSIONS—Once- or twice-daily extended-release metformin was as safe and effective as twice-daily immediate-release metformin and provided continued glycemic control for up to 24 weeks of treatment.
Footnotes
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A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
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- Accepted January 9, 2006.
- Received October 13, 2005.
- DIABETES CARE
