Dr. Buse replied that a companion phase III trial, known as DUAL II,is in fact a blinded comparison. The results will be presented this fall in Barcelona at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
Dr. Rosenstock called the reduction in hypoglycemic events in the IDegLira group particularly impressive, given the hefty decrease in HbA1c in that group. He asked for Dr. Buse’s thoughts as to the explanation.
It’s possibly in part a consequence of the IDegLira group’s lesser daily insulin dose, Dr. Buse replied, but liraglutide-induced improvement in alpha-cell function probably plays a bigger role.
He reported serving as a consultant to Novo Nordisk and more than 30 other pharmaceutical companies.