Dulaglutide is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events and renal outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to two studies published in The Lancet to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association, held from June 7 to 11 in San Francisco.

Hertzel C. Gerstein, M.D., from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues conducted a randomized trial in 24 countries to examine the long-term effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide on cardiovascular disease. Patients aged ≥50 years with type 2 diabetes and a previous cardiovascular event or risk factors were randomly assigned to either dulaglutide (4,949 patients) or placebo (4,952 patients). The researchers found that the primary composite outcome (composite end point of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes) occurred in 12.0 and 13.4 percent of participants in the dulaglutide and placebo groups, respectively, during a median follow-up of 5.4 years (hazard ratio, 0.88).

In a second study conducted in the same population, Gerstein and colleagues examined the renal component of the composite microvascular outcome, which was defined as first occurrence of new macroalbuminuria, a sustained decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30 percent or more from baseline, or chronic renal replacement therapy. The researchers found that the renal outcome developed in 17.1 and 19.6 percent of patients in the dulaglutide and placebo groups, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.85). The strongest effect was seen for new macroalbuminuria (hazard ratio, 0.77).

"Dulaglutide can safely reduce these events while improving diabetes control and modestly lowering weight and blood pressure in middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes," Gerstein said in a statement.

Several authors from both studies disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, which manufactures dulaglutide and funded the REWIND study.

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