Efficacy and safety of insulin glargine/lixisenatide (iGlarLixi) fixed-ratio combination in older adults with type 2 diabetes

Aims: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of iGlarLixi (a titratable, fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine [iGlar] plus lixisenatide) in older patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This post hoc analysis used patient-level data from patients aged >= 65 years from the phase III LixiLan-O and LixiLan-L studies, which compared iGlarLixi with iGlar and lixisenatide (LixiLan-0 only). Efficacy endpoints were changes in glycated hemoglobin A1C, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose, weight, and achievement of Al C <7.0% (53 mmol/mol). Safety measures included incidence of documented symptomatic hypoglycemia (defined as typical symptoms of hypoglycemia plus self-measured plasma glucose <= 70 mg/dL [3.9 mmol/L]), severe hypoglycemia (requiring assistance of another person), and incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events. Results were compared with those from patients aged <65 years. Results: In both trials, older patients treated with iGlarLixi achieved significantly greater reductions in Al C at Week 30 than comparators. Treatment with iGlarLixi mitigated insulin-associated weight gain and lixisenatide-associated gastrointestinal events. Results were largely comparable between patients aged >= 65 versus <65 years. Conclusions: iGlarLixi provides significant improvements in glycemic control in patients aged >= 65 years without increasing hypoglycemia risk. As a once-daily injection, it simplifies treatment regimens and may contribute to improved adherence in this patient population. (C) 2018 The Authors.