Efficacy and Safety of Once-Weekly Dulaglutide Versus Insulin Glargine in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes on Metformin and Glimepiride (AWARD-2)

OBJECTIVE This study compared the efficacy and safety of once-weekly dulaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, with daily insulin glargine, both combined with maximally tolerated doses of metformin and glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes. The primary objective was noninferiority of dulaglutide 1.5 mg to glargine in the HbA_1c change from baseline at 52 weeks.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this 78-week, open-label study, 810 patients were randomized to dulaglutide 1.5 mg, dulaglutide 0.75 mg, or glargine.

RESULTS The baseline mean ± SD HbA_1c was 8.1 ± 1.0% (65.5 ± 10.8 mmol/mol). The least squares mean ± SE HbA_1c change from baseline to the primary end point was −1.08 ± 0.06% (−11.8 ± 0.7 mmol/mol) for dulaglutide 1.5 mg, −0.76 ± 0.06% (−8.3 ± 0.7 mmol/mol) for dulaglutide 0.75 mg, and −0.63 ± 0.06% (−6.9 ± 0.7 mmol/mol) for glargine, with an end point mean ± SD dose of 29 ± 26 units (0.33 ± 0.24 units/kg), and a fasting plasma glucose (mean ± SD) of 118 ± 23 mg/dL from self-monitored plasma glucose. Statistical criteria for superiority were met with dulaglutide 1.5 mg and for noninferiority with dulaglutide 0.75 mg. More patients on dulaglutide 1.5 mg achieved HbA_1c targets <7.0% (53 mmol/mol) versus glargine (P < 0.001). Body weight decreased with dulaglutide and increased with glargine. Total hypoglycemia rates were lower with dulaglutide; severe hypoglycemia was minimal. Increases in pancreatic enzymes were observed for dulaglutide. Incidence of nausea (15.4, 7.7, and 1.5%) and diarrhea (10.6, 9.2, and 5.7%) were more common with dulaglutide 1.5 mg and 0.75 mg than with glargine.

CONCLUSIONS Once-weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg, compared with daily insulin glargine without forced titration, demonstrated greater HbA_1c reduction and weight loss, with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events and a lower risk of hypoglycemia.