OBJECTIVEWhen oral therapy for type 2 diabetes is ineffective, adding basal insulin improves glycemic control. However, when glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) remains elevated because of postprandial hyperglycemia, the next therapeutic step is controversial. We examined the efficacy and safety of lixisenatide in patients with HbA1c still elevated after initiation of insulin glargine.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis double-blind, parallel-group trial enrolled patients with HbA1c 7–10% despite oral therapy. Insulin glargine was added and systematically titrated during a 12-week run-in, after which candidates with fasting glucose ≤7.8 mmol/L and HbA1c 7–9% were randomized to lixisenatide 20 µg or placebo for 24 weeks while insulin titration continued. The primary end point was HbA1c change after randomization.RESULTSThe randomized population (n = 446) had mean diabetes duration of 9.2 years, BMI 31.8 kg/m2, and daily glargine dosage of 44 units. HbA1c had decreased during run-in from 8.6 to 7.6%; adding lixisenatide further reduced HbA1c by 0.71 vs. 0.40% with placebo (least squares mean difference, –0.32%; 95% CI, –0.46 to –0.17; P < 0.0001). More participants attained HbA1c <7% with lixisenatide (56 vs. 39%; P < 0.0001). Lixisenatide reduced plasma glucose 2 h after a standardized breakfast (difference vs. placebo –3.2 mmol/L; P < 0.0001) and had a favorable effect on body weight (difference vs. placebo –0.89 kg; P = 0.0012). Nausea, vomiting, and symptomatic hypoglycemia <3.3 mmol/L were more common with lixisenatide.CONCLUSIONSAdding lixisenatide to insulin glargine improved overall and postprandial hyperglycemia and deserves consideration as an alternative to prandial insulin for patients not reaching HbA1c goals with recently initiated basal insulin.

FOR THE HOE901/4007 STUDY GROUPOBJECTIVE -Insulin glargine (Lantus), a long-acting human insulin analog, provides effective glycemic control when administered at bedtime. This open-label, randomized, parallel group, multicenter study investigated whether insulin glargine is equally effective if administered before breakfast, before dinner, or at bedtime.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Patients with type 1 diabetes on basal-bolus therapy (n ϭ 378, 18 -68 years, HbA 1c 5.5-9.8%) were treated with once-daily individually titrated insulin glargine in combination with prandial insulin lispro for 24 weeks.RESULTS -Baseline characteristics were similar in the three groups (overall age 40.9 Ϯ 11.9 years, diabetes duration 17.3 Ϯ 11.5 years). Median total daily insulin dose was similar at baseline (0.65, 0.65, and 0.66 IU/kg for breakfast, dinner, and bedtime, respectively) and remained relatively constant over the study period; however, the insulin glargine-to-total insulin dose ratio increased more in the breakfast group than in the dinner and bedtime groups. A similar reduction of adjusted mean HbA 1c from baseline to end point occurred in all patients (7.6 -7.4, 7.6 -7.5, and 7.6 -7.5% for breakfast, dinner, and bedtime, respectively), and a similar percentage achieved HbA 1c Ͻ7.0% at end point in all groups (29.5, 29.8, and 25.8%, respectively). The 24-h blood glucose profiles in relation to injection time were similar in all groups. The incidences of total symptomatic and severe hypoglycemia did not differ between the three treatment groups; however, nocturnal hypoglycemia occurred in significantly fewer patients in the breakfast group (59.5%) compared with the dinner (71.9%) and bedtime (77.5%) groups (P ϭ 0.005).

OBJECTIVEThis study assessed the efficacy and safety of LixiLan, a fixed-ratio, titratable, combination of 2 units insulin glargine (Gla-100) and 1 μg lixisenatide administered once daily via a single pen, versus Gla-100 in insulin-naïve type 2 diabetes on metformin.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSParticipants were randomized to once-daily LixiLan (n = 161) or Gla-100 (n = 162) for 24 weeks, while continuing metformin. LixiLan and Gla-100 were started at 10 units/5 μg and 10 units, respectively, and titrated based on the Gla-100 requirement according to fasting plasma glucose levels. The primary objective was to test noninferiority (upper bound of the 95% CI ≤0.4%) of LixiLan in reducing HbA1c; if met, statistical superiority was tested. Secondary objectives included body weight changes, hypoglycemia, and safety.RESULTSBaseline characteristics (mean age 57 years, diabetes duration 6–7 years, BMI 32 kg/m2) were similar between groups. At week 24, mean HbA1c was reduced from 8.0% (64 mmol/mol) at baseline to 6.3% (45 mmol/mol) and 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) with LixiLan and Gla-100, respectively, establishing statistical noninferiority and superiority of LixiLan (least-squared mean [95% CI] difference: −0.17% [−0.31, −0.04] {−1.9 mmol/mol [−3.4, −0.4]}; P = 0.01). HbA1c <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol) was achieved in 84% and 78% of participants (nonsignificant), respectively. LixiLan improved 2-h postmeal plasma glucose versus Gla-100 (least-squared mean difference: –3.17 mmol/L [–57 mg/dL]; P < 0.0001). Body weight was reduced with LixiLan (–1 kg) and increased with Gla-100 (+0.5 kg; P < 0.0001), with no increase in hypoglycemic events (∼25% in each group). The incidence of nausea (7.5%) and vomiting (2.5%) was low with LixiLan.CONCLUSIONSLixiLan achieved statistically significant reductions to near-normal HbA1c levels with weight loss and no increased hypoglycemic risk, compared with insulin glargine alone, and a low incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events in type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin.

We report the results of a large-scale trial with mifepristone (RU 486) followed by the administration of a prostaglandin (PG) analogue for the medical termination of early pregnancy. Altogether, 16,173 patients from 300 centers were evaluated. 48 women (0.3%) were lost to follow-up prior to, and 416 (2.6%) after the PG administration, and therefore the efficacy was evaluated in 15,709 women. Overall, the success rate was 95.3%, with no statistical difference regarding the nature and dose of PG used. The median duration of bleeding was 8 days, being 12 days or less in 89.7% of the women. Bleeding was significant enough to necessitate a vacuum aspiration or a dilatation and curettage in 0.8% of the cases. A blood transfusion was necessary in 0.1% of the women (11 patients). Serious cardio-vascular side-effects were reported in 4 cases after the PG (sulprostone) injection: they consisted of one acute myocardial infarction attributed to a coronary spasm, and in marked hypotension in the other 3 women. All patients recovered uneventfully. In conclusion, RU 486 followed by a PG analogue provides an efficient and safe medical alternative to surgery for early pregnancy termination, provided that the recommended protocol is adequately followed and the contraindications to prostaglandins are respected.

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