Amylin and Lilly said that in the study, Byetta was associated with a lower incidence of CVD-related events than insulin, thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and sulfonylureas and a comparable incidence versus metformin and Januvia (sitagliptin).
Byetta was also associated with a lower incidence of all-cause hospitalisations than insulin, TZDs and sulfonylureas; a comparable incidence versus metformin and a higher incidence than Januvia.
The study used data accrued over nearly four years from the IMS LifeLink Health Plan Claims Database, comprised of medical and pharmaceutical claims for more than 65 million patients from 98 health plans across the US.
The incidence of CVD-related events was assessed in approximately 22,000 patients who were treated with Byetta relative to nearly 353,000 patients who were treated with other diabetes therapies.
Reportedly, baseline lipid levels, blood pressure, obesity and evidence of prior cardiovascular disease were higher in patients treated with Byetta than patients treated with most other therapies.
EXSCEL (EXenatide Study of Cardiovascular Event Lowering) is designed to determine if there are favorable cardiovascular effects of exenatide treatment, using the investigational product Bydureon (exenatide extended-release for injectable suspension), compared to standard of care with traditional diabetes medications.
Amylin Pharma senior vice president and chief medical officer Orville Kolterman said that their EXSCEL cardiovascular outcomes study will further explore the role of exenatide.