Efficacy of liraglutide added to sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes, stratified by baseline characteristics: Post-hoc analysis of LIRA-ADD2SGLT2i

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2021 Oct;23(10):2234-2241. doi: 10.1111/dom.14464. Epub 2021 Jul 8.

Abstract

Aims: The LIRA-ADD2SGLT2i trial demonstrated that liraglutide + sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) ± metformin significantly improved glycaemic control (not body weight) versus placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This post-hoc analysis assessed whether baseline characteristics influenced these findings.

Materials and methods: LIRA-ADD2SGLT2i (NCT02964247) was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multinational trial, wherein participants received liraglutide (≤1.8 mg/day) or placebo (randomized 2:1). Changes from baseline to week 26 in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), body weight and waist circumference stratified by HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), diabetes duration, duration of pre-trial SGLT2i use and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were analysed. These five baseline characteristics were divided into tertiles, and the treatment effect was evaluated using the trial product estimand.

Results: Data from all 303 participants were analysed. There was a significant interaction between baseline HbA1c tertiles (7.0%-<7.6%; 7.6%-8.1%; ≥8.2%-9.5%) and glycaemic control at week 26 (p[interaction] = .011), with the lowest HbA1c estimated treatment difference (95% confidence interval) observed in patients with lowest baseline HbA1c [-0.20% (-0.59, 0.19); -0.68% (-1.03, -0.33); -0.98% (-1.33, -0.64), respectively]. There were no significant interactions in glycaemic control across baseline BMI, diabetes duration, insulin resistance determined by HOMA-IR or SGLT2i use duration (p[interaction] > .05, all). Across the five characteristics assessed, no significant interactions were found for body weight or waist circumference changes from baseline (p[interaction] > .05, all).

Conclusion: For individuals with T2D and inadequate glycaemic control despite therapy with SGLT2is ± metformin, liraglutide 1.8 mg would provide an effective treatment intensification option, irrespective of HbA1c, BMI, diabetes duration, insulin resistance determined by HOMA-IR and SGLT2i use duration.

Keywords: GLP-1 analogue; SGLT2 inhibitor; antidiabetic drug; glycaemic control; liraglutide; type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Glucose
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glucose / therapeutic use
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Liraglutide / therapeutic use
  • Sodium
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors
  • Liraglutide
  • Sodium
  • Glucose

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02964247