Diabetes Drug Reduces Cardiovascular Event Risk

Treatment with albiglutide is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and existing cardiovascular disease, according to data presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting.

In order to determine the cardiovascular effects of albiglutide, the researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 9463 participants. The participants were randomly assigned to either subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg)(n = 4731) or to placebo (n = 4732), in addition to standard care.

Over a median of 1.6 years of follow-up, the primary combined outcome (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) occurred in 338 patients in the albiglutide group (7.1%) and in 428 patients in the placebo group (9.0%), equaling a 22% reduction in the risk of the outcome in the albiglutide group.

The rates of serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the groups.

“In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.”

The Harmony-Outcomes study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline.

—Michael Potts

Hernandez AF, Green JB, Janmohamed S, et al. Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial [published online October 2, 2018]. Lancet. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32261-X