Victoza (liraglutide) provides significantly greater HbA1c reduction than lixisenatide in new clinical trial

Findings from a head-to-head trial comparing Victoza (liraglutide) and lixisenatide, both in combination with metformin, demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c of -1.83% for liraglutide vs -1.21% for lixisenatide in adults with type 2 diabetes.

The 26-week LIRA-LIXI trial compared the efficacy and safety of Victoza versus lixisenatide, both as add-on to metformin in 404 people with type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes treated with Victoza achieved a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c versus lixisenatide at 26 weeks, meeting the trial's primary endpoint (-1.83% vs -1.21%; estimated treatment difference [ETD] -0.62% [-0.80; -0.44]; P<0.0001). In addition, more people treated with Victoza achieved HbA1c targets of <7% (74.2% vs 45.5%; odds ratio (OR) 4.16; [2.58; 6.73]; P<0.0001) and =<6.5% (54.6% vs 26.2%; OR 3.66; [2.31; 5.81]; P<0.0001) compared with lixisenatide.

"The significant difference in blood glucose control between liraglutide and lixisenatide reported in the LIRA-LIXI trial reinforces the value of liraglutide as an efficacious treatment for those with type 2 diabetes otherwise treated with oral glucose-lowering drugs," said Professor Michael A Nauck, director and diabetologist, Division of Diabetology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany and principal investigator of the LIRA-LIXI trial. "Many people living with type 2 diabetes remain uncontrolled and it is crucial for these patients to gain control of their blood glucose levels to help prevent further complications from this disease."