GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have reported the data from the phase III Harmony 8 study and from the event driven meta-analysis for assessment of cardiovascular safety conducted across the albiglutide clinical programme. These data are the final elements required to complete the clinical registration package.

With these data now available and anticipating completion of the chemistry and manufacturing package in the next few months, GSK intends to commence global regulatory submissions for its investigational glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist albiglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in early 2013.

Albiglutide is not yet approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes or any other indication anywhere in the world.

The Harmony 8 study is a 52-week randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group, multi-centre study, comparing albiglutide to a DPP-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin, in type 2 diabetes patients with renal impairment (n=507). It is the first completed study of a GLP-1 agonist to assess efficacy and safety across the spectrum of renal impairment from mild to severe, and the third of eight Harmony phase III studies to complete. At the 26-week primary endpoint, albiglutide showed clinically and statistically significant reductions in HbA1c from baseline (8.08 per cent for albiglutide and 8.22 per cent for sitagliptin)and superiority versus sitagliptin (reduction of 0.83 per cent vs 0.52 per cent; p<0.0001 for non-inferiority and p=0.0003 for superiority). At the primary endpoint, weight loss was significantly greater in the albiglutide group than the sitagliptin group (-0.79kg vs -0.19kg; p=0.0281). During the full 52-week treatment period, albiglutide was generally well tolerated with diarrhoea being the most common adverse event for albiglutide (10 per cent) vs sitagliptin (6.5 per cent).  Nausea and vomiting rates were relatively comparable across the albiglutide and sitagliptin treatment arms (4.8 per cent vs. 3.3 per cent for nausea; 1. 6 per cent vs. 1.2 per cent for vomiting respectively).

A meta-analysis which demonstrates that a therapy will not result in an unacceptable increase in cardiovascular risk is required by the FDA for the registration and approval of any product for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the US. The EMA has announced a similar safety assessment requirement for such treatments. For the albiglutide meta-analysis, an independent clinical endpoints committee adjudicated cardiovascular events across all eight phase III Harmony studies involving approximately 5,000 patients and from one phase II study. This analysis has now been completed and rules out excess cardiovascular risk according to a threshold pre-specified by the FDA. Analyses of the data support progression to submission and will be presented to health authorities in the coming months.

Detailed analysis of the full data set from Harmony 8 and the cardiovascular meta-analysis will be conducted in the coming months and the data will be submitted for presentation at scientific meetings in 2013 as appropriate.

In addition to data from Harmony 8 and the CV meta-analysis, the clinical registration package will also include data from two other completed phase III studies Harmony 6 and 7 (presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting (ADA) in June 2012) and primary endpoint data from five remaining phase III studies, Harmony 1 to 5. These data are currently in-house and support progression to registration; however as the five studies will not be completed until early 2013, the data have to remain confidential to protect the integrity of the ongoing blinded studies and in line with our agreement with regulatory authorities.

The Harmony 8 study enrolled 507 patients with mild, moderate and severe renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of = 15 and < 90 mL/min/1.73m2). Patients were randomised to receive albiglutide (30mg weekly with up-titration to 50mg weekly based on glycemic response) plus sitagliptin matching placebo, or sitagliptin (as per label: 25 to 100mg depending on degree of renal insufficiency) plus albiglutide matching placebo. Patients were treated for 52 weeks and the primary endpoint was a comparison between albiglutide and sitagliptin in the reduction of HbA1c from baseline at Week 26; secondary endpoints included other parameters of glucose control, weight, and safety and tolerability.

The phase III clinical development programme for albiglutide comprises eight individual studies, known as Harmony 1 to Harmony 8, and involves approximately 5,000 patients, The programme is investigating the efficacy, tolerability and safety, including cardiovascular safety, of albiglutide as mono- and add-on therapy, in patients with type 2 diabetes. A majority of the studies include active comparators, including a sulphonylurea, a thiazolidinedione (TZD), insulin and a dipeptidyl peptidase four inhibitor (DPP-4).

Albiglutide is an investigational biological, injectable form of human GLP-1.  GLP-1 is a peptide that acts throughout the body to help maintain normal blood-sugar levels and to control appetite. Normally, GLP-1 levels rise during a meal to help the body use and control the elevation in blood sugar levels. However, GLP-1 is rapidly degraded, resulting in its short duration of action. In people with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 secretion in response to a meal is reduced. Albiglutide is an investigational medicine which fuses human GLP-1 to human albumin. It is designed to extend the action of GLP-1 and has potential to allow for weekly injections.

GSK is developing albiglutide as a once-weekly injection using a pen injector to allow reconstitution by the patient and a fine gauge needle for subcutaneous administration.

GSK, one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.