Albiglutide for treating type 2 diabetes: an evaluation of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy

INTRODUCTION: Albiglutide is a once-weekly, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist approved during 2014 in both the US and Europe for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. The recommended dose is 30 mg with the possibility of uptitration to 50 mg based on individual glycemic response.

AREAS COVERED: Here, we outline the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy data originating from the Phase I - III studies carried out to obtain market authorization for albiglutide.

EXPERT OPINION: The eight Phase III clinical trials have provided evidence that albiglutide in monotherapy and as an add-on to different background therapies confers placebo-corrected reductions in glycemia with changes in glycated hemoglobin of -0.8 to -1.0%. Albiglutide did not cause significant weight loss compared to placebo, but the adverse events profile was favorable with gastrointestinal adverse events occurring only slightly more with albiglutide than placebo. There is no clinical evidence of an effect of albiglutide on major cardiovascular outcomes.