LISBON, Portugal, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Amylin
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:
LLY) and Alkermes, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKS) today announced new analyses
from the DURATION-3 and -4 trials demonstrating patients treated
with the investigational medication BYDUREON™ (exenatide
extended-release for injectable suspension) experienced significant
improvements in select cardiovascular risk factors, in comparison
to patients who received commonly prescribed diabetes treatments.
The analyses showed that patients receiving BYDUREON for the
treatment of type 2 diabetes experienced improvements in composite
endpoints related to body weight, abnormal blood pressure and
abnormal lipid levels. These findings will be presented at the 47th
European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in
Lisbon, Portugal.
"Patients with diabetes are at least twice as likely as people
without the disease to have heart disease or a stroke. Having other
chronic conditions including obesity, high blood pressure or high
cholesterol further increases this risk," said James Malone, MD, global exenatide medical
director, Lilly Diabetes. "These data underscore the need to
consider not only glycemic control but also the important role
played by other medical conditions that are common among patients
with type 2 diabetes."
Study Results:
Patients participating in the DURATION-3 study received BYDUREON
or Lantus® (insulin glargine) in addition to metformin or metformin
plus a sulfonylurea. Interim results from the study's ongoing
extension found that patients receiving BYDUREON and completing 84
weeks of therapy:
- Demonstrated statistically significant reduction in body weight
(vs. Lantus; treatment difference: 9.8 pounds).
Also, statistically significantly more patients in the BYDUREON
treatment arm:
- Met a composite endpoint of A1C