Diabetes Dialogue: 10 Years of SGLT2s, Insulin for All, and Pemvidutide

The month of March has been kind to the diabetes community, both historically and in present day.

On March 29, 2013, the community unknowingly welcomed to the management armamentarium what would become a paradigm-shifting therapy in the SGLT2 inhibitor class, with the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of canagliflozin (Invokana).

Fast-forward 10 years to March 2023 and the insulin for all movement saw its greatest victory to date with Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi all announcing plans to significantly reduce the cost of insulin products.

In this special edition episode of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, and Real-World Perspectives, hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist and coordinator of the Remote Monitoring Program at the Cleveland Clinic, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, program director of Diabetes Technology at University Hospitals Diabetes and Metabolic Care Center, tackle both of these topics and also break down interim results of phase 2 MOMENTUM trial examining Altimmune’s peptide-based GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist, pemvidutide.

In a March 21 press release, Altimmune provided new insight into the trial with results from a 24-week interim analysis. Data from the trial indicate use of pemvidutide was associated with a mean reductions in mean body weight of 7.3%, 9.4% and 10.7% at the 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, and 2.4 mg doses, respectively, with the placebo group experiencing a mean weight loss of 1.0% (P < 0.001). However, the release noted a discontinuation rate of 24.0% with pemvidutide, with approximately half of these withdrawals occurring as a result of gastrointestinal adverse events.⁵

All episodes of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives is available in an audio-only format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Relevant disclosures for Dr. Isaacs include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Abbott Diabetes Care, Dexcom, Medtronic, and others. Relevant disclosures for Dr. Bellini include Abbott Diabetes Care.

References

1. Johnson & Johnson. Content Lab U.S. https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/us-fda-approves-invokana-canagliflozin-for-the-treatment-of-adults-with-type-2-diabetes. Published March 29, 2013. Accessed March 28, 2023.
2. Lilly cuts insulin prices by 70% and caps patient insulin out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month. Eli Lilly and Company. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-cuts-insulin-prices-70-and-caps-patient-insulin-out-pocket. Published March 1, 2023. Accessed March 28, 2023.
3. Novo Nordisk to lower U.S. prices of several pre-filled insulin pens and vials up to 75% for people living with diabetes in January 2024. Novo Nordisk. https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/latest-news/lowering-us-list-prices-of-several-products-.html. Published March 14, 2023. Accessed March 28, 2023.
4. Press release: Sanofi cuts U.S. list price of Lantus®, its most-prescribed insulin, by 78% and caps out-of-pocket lantus costs at $35 for all patients with commercial insurance. Sanofi. https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2023/2023-03-16-20-06-43-2629188. Published March 16, 2023. Accessed March 28, 2023.
5. Altimmune announces positive results from week 24 interim analysis of PEMVIDUTIDE Momentum Phase 2 obesity trial and 12-week phase 1B type 2 diabetes safety trial. Altimmune. https://ir.altimmune.com/news-releases/news-release-details/altimmune-announces-positive-results-week-24-interim-analysis. Published March 21, 2023. Accessed March 28, 2023.