Sanofi launches Suliqua™ (insulin glargine/lixisenatide) in the UK for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
READING – 30 September 2019 – Sanofi announced today the UK launch of Suliqua™ (insulin glargine/lixisenatide), a once-daily titratable fixed-ratio combination of basal insulin glargine 100 Units/mL and GLP-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Suliqua™ in combination with metformin is authorised for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control when this has not been provided by metformin alone or metformin combined with another oral glucose lowering medicinal product or with basal insulin.[2]
Approval of the once-daily injection is based on two phase III studies, LixiLan-O and LixiLan-L.[3],[4] LixiLan-O showed Suliqua™ to be statistically superior in reducing blood sugar levels in comparison with both lixisenatide and insulin glargine 100 Units/mL.3 The LixiLan-L study found Suliqua™ demonstrated greater reductions in blood sugar levels in comparison with insulin glargine 100 Units/mL.4
The studies enrolled more than 1,900 adults with type 2 diabetes worldwide to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of the fixed-ratio combination added to metformin therapy when used in patient populations insufficiently controlled after Oral Antidiabetic Drugs and after basal insulin therapy, respectively.3,4
Dr Thomas Barber, Associate Clinical Professor in Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Warwick, and Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said: “Diabetes can have a huge impact on the people it affects, so finding treatments that are convenient and easy to use is extremely important. The simple administration of an insulin glargine/lixisenatide fixed ratio combination in a single daily injection may help to reduce the daily complexity of diabetes management”.
Dr Mike Baxter, Medical Therapy Area Expert, Diabetes said: “Suliqua is a welcome addition to the growing Sanofi diabetes portfolio. There are many patients with type 2 diabetes who despite multiple therapies fail to achieve optimal control of their glucose levels. Suliqua is a novel diabetes therapy which offers the potential for improving diabetes control in people with type 2 diabetes. The launch of Suliqua in the UK demonstrates Sanofi’s continued commitment to address unmet need for patients”
[2] Suliqua™ EU Summary of Product Characteristics, 2019.
[3] Rosenstock J, et al. Diabetes Care. 2016, DOI: 10.2337/dc16-0917.
[4] Aroda VR, et al. Diabetes Care. 2016, DOI: 10.2337/dc16-1495.
