GSK’s Syncria Improves Glucose Control, Reduces Weight

New Phase II data showed that the investigational type 2 diabetes treatment Syncria (albiglutide) has reduced blood glucose levels and provided weight loss across weekly, biweekly and monthly dosing.

Reducing blood sugar is a key part of managing type2 diabetes. In the study, dose-dependent reductions in A1C – a measure of how well blood sugar is being controlled over time – with albiglutide 30 mg weekly, 50 mg biweekly, and 100 mg monthly, were 0.9%, 0.8% and 0.9% respectively.

The A1C reduction by placebo was 0.2% and by open-label exenatide was 0.5%. Weight loss (0.9 to 1.8 kg) was observed across all doses.

Julio Rosenstock, MD, Dallas Diabetes and Endocrine Center at Medical City and Clinical Professor of medicine, said: Despite a range of available diabetes therapies, over half of patients with type 2 diabetes are unable to achieve the ADA target blood sugar goal.

While these results need to be confirmed in ongoing studies, the findings with albiglutide are important since weight gain and fear of increased blood sugar levels can be major barriers to diabetes management, he added.