Roche, Ipsen note positive results in diabetes drug trial

PARIS An investigational diabetes drug developed by Roche and Ipsen offers glycemic control comparable to that of an insulin produced by Sanofi-Aventis, according to results of two late-stage clinical trials announced Thursday.

An investigational diabetes drug developed by Roche and Ipsen offers glycemic control comparable to that of an insulin produced by Sanofi-Aventis, according to results of two late-stage clinical trials announced Thursday. Roche has disclosed results of the fourth and fifth phase 3 trials of an eight-trial program comparing taspoglutide with Sanofi’s Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin]) and placebo in patients with Type 2 diabetes, indicating that taspoglutide lowered HbA1c levels in patients as effectively as Lantus.

One study, involving 1,049 patients, compared patients who took taspoglutide with those who took Lantus and metformin who had previously taken a combination of metformin and sulfonylurea but had failed to lower HbA1c levels. The other gave taspoglutide or placebo to 305 overweight or obese patients.

Earlier this month, Ipsen released results from two other trials in the program, indicating that taspoglutide provided better glycemic control than Merck & Co.’s Januvia (sitagliptin).