Results from a study indicating that Byetta (exenatide) injection improves blood sugar levels as effectively as insulin glargine (Lantus, Sanofi-Aventis) for people with type 2 diabetes failing to achieve acceptable blood sugar control on both metformin and a sulfonylurea, two common oral diabetes medications. Both treatments were effective in lowering blood sugar, and patients taking Byetta experienced weight reductions while those on insulin glargine gained weight. The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 65th Scientific Sessions in San Diego, California, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company jointly announced here.

Byetta (pronounced bye-A-tuh), the trade name for exenatide, is the first in a new class of medicines known as incretin mimetics, and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

In this study, patients in each treatment group -- either Byetta or insulin glargine -- lowered their average blood sugar (glucose) levels, as measured by haemoglobin A1C (A1C), by approximately 1 per cent from baseline after six months of therapy. A1C measures a person's average glucose level over a three-month period and is often used by healthcare providers to assess blood glucose management. The ADA recommends a target A1C of less than 7 per cent. Approximately half of the patients in each treatment group achieved an A1C of 7 per cent or less.

The study also showed that patients on Byetta lost an average of five pounds, while patients on insulin glargine gained an average of four pounds. Weight gain is a common side effect of insulin therapy. In addition, Byetta reduced peak glucose levels after meals better than insulin glargine.

"This is the first comparator study in which a non-insulin treatment for diabetes has demonstrated similar blood glucose control to insulin for patients who are failing to achieve treatment targets on oral medications," professor Robert Heine, director of the Diabetes Centre, VU University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, and a lead author of the study said adding, "When considering the weight loss and achieved glucose control, the results of this study demonstrate that Byetta can be an effective tool for the management of type 2 diabetes patients who cannot control their blood sugar using oral medications."