Albiglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a new class of antidiabetic drugs that provide the benefits of decreasing HbA1c and plasma glucose concentrations, stimulating insulin secretion with a very low risk of hypoglycemia, and promoting weight loss. With the exception of once-weekly exenatide, currently available GLP-1 receptor agonists are administered once or twice daily by injection. Albiglutide is a new GLP-1 receptor agonist recently approved in the U.S. (Tanzeum™) and European Union (Eperzan®) for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes with a dosage of 30 mg once weekly, which may be increased to 50 mg if the glycemic response is inadequate. Clinical trials showed that albiglutide once weekly delayed gastric emptying, mildly decreased body weight and had similar efficacy in the reduction of HbA1c as comparators, but it failed to demonstrate noninferiority to liraglutide. Albiglutide exhibits an acceptable safety profile, although it is associated with more frequent gastrointestinal complaints (e.g., nausea, diarrhea, vomiting) and injection-site reactions. Immunogenicity (i.e., testing positive for anti-drug antibody) was observed in 5.5% of subjects but it was not associated with increased adverse events. Long-term studies are needed to fully assess potential adverse events.