A Once-Weekly Diabetes Treatment that Aids with Weight Loss?
Amylin Pharmaceuticals is working on something they’re hailing as a potential miracle drug: the first-ever once-weekly diabetes treatment that’s guaranteed to bring down your blood sugar levels and help you lose weight and keep it off. It certainly sounds amazing, no?
The drug is a new “extended” version of exenatide (commercial name: Byetta, an injectable used to treat Type 2 diabetes) that will be submitted for FDA approval by the end of 2009. It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1s, gut hormones that lower glucose levels by increasing insulin secretion from the pancreas and suppressing the release of glucagon (glucose in the bloodstream). It also curbs your appetite by slowing gastric emptying.
In studies, patients testing the new long-acting drug achieved an AVERAGE of a two percentage-point drop in their A1C (measure of glucose levels over the last three months), and also lost an average of 9.5 pounds and kept the weight off for at least six months, Amylin reports. That kind of impact is extraordinary, to be sure
The company is positioning this new once-weekly as the “missing link” in diabetes care due to the killer combination of these unprecedented results, and the fact that it will be so easy to use that patients can and will more consistently stick to their treatment regimen.
They say it can also be safely combined with metformin and other oral drugs, and they’ll be studying its efficacy against these drugs and also against insulin itself in the next few years.
At a recent healthcare investor’s conference in San Francisco, where I learned about the drug, Amylin was even quoting prominent physicians as saying this drug – when it’s ready for market – will create an entirely “new class of treatment for Type 2 diabetes.”
Wow! I hope they are right. We hear about potential miracle meds all the time, so it’s wise to take this news with a grain of salt as well. As always, there are some good reasons for optimism and pessimism alike:
A bit about Byetta:
The current version of Byetta is administered in an injection pen with a tiny needle twice daily, usually before the first and last meal of the day. Because of its effectiveness with glucose control and weight loss, Byetta has quickly become one of the most widely prescribed diabetes treatments in the US.
However, its main side effect is nausea and other gastrointestinal discomfort, so it’s not meant for people who already have problems in that area. Also, there was a recent safety scare when several patients using the drug showed up with acute pancreatitis, including several deaths. But the FDA has continued to sanction the drug since no definite causal relationship has been established.
FDA hurdles:
One potential roadblock is tightening FDA regulations for approval of all new diabetes drugs. After the evidence that a controversial drug called Avandia may significantly increase patients’ risk of heart attack, the FDA is cracking down with stringent new research requirements. Some folks are worried that this may slow down approvals of new diabetes drugs “to the pace of molasses.”
Let’s hope they can strike a balance between safety and progress towards innovative new treatments. Because according to experts like diabetes researcher Andre J. Scheen, MD, PhD, of Belgium's University of Liege, the once-weekly version of exenatide will provide better blood sugar control and reduced nausea. “This new strategy might substantially change the management of Type 2 diabetes," he writes.
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I am worried with the drastic budget cuts that congress has just made that it will slow down a lot of teseting of diabetic drugs that would be benefical to all of us. I think we need to write our congreeman to tell them that research is important!
I told the Insurance to tell the Dr. No and have him put me on a pill. I hate shots as every time I get stung I have to have shots to keep me alive. The Byetta 5 was working for about 1 year and then I needed the 10 I said no and got my Metformin instead now I have stopped taking all insulin have lost almost 10 pounds in 3 Months and am loving it. Have 2 pills now but no more shots. They started me on Insulin after a Major Surgery back in 2003 with out asking me and I stopped watching what I was eatting at the time and am now fighting to get rid of the extra Weight but couldn't lose it on the Insulin so stopped filling the scrip. Sure made the Doc's Nurse Mader than a wet hen. LOL
I was on Metformin for 3 months at first, but i diabetes class two years ago, they were pushing Byetta. By the time I went to the first class I was losing weight and never had a whole lot to lose, and they acted like they wanted me to start it but I said no I'm geting off this Metformin, after losing it all, and I was doing good with the diet and exercise. But if I do begin having problems, if I can't control what I eat and the portions and I start to gain too much, then I would try Byetta, and I know they say you can't really feel it, but the thought of injections makes me nervous.
I was on Byetta and when it stopped working for me they put me on Metformin. Then this pass Dec. I told the Doc I wanted off of the Insulin, he says lose weight and I'll take you off of the insulin. So I did one better for me; I told him I was not filling the insulin any more till after July 31,2011 and he can give me another pill to go with the first one. Well I got my way over this one and so far it is doing good for me.
If they do get this on the Market it will be good for all Diabetics the world over. I hope it goes on the Market sooner than later.
I've used Byetta for almost two years and it is a very important part of my glucose control plan. There are many times where it is difficult to keep up the twice daily injections, especially when I travel. While I appreciate the importance of due diligence on the part of the FDA, as I've followed this with great interest, the long delays (the last one was a surprise to doctors, researchers, industry analysts, etc.) feels like politics have once again mixed with science. I am greatly looking forward to the approval and release of the extended version because it will make a very important part of my plan easier to carry out.
I wonder of this new drug has the same chemicals and Byetta does cause I can't take Byetta anymore because I am allergic to a chemical that is contained in Byetta. I would love to try this new one out to see if it in fact can help me. Oh well———-LOL!!!!!!!!!!
Byetta is not approved by the FDA to take with insulin, and I think it is also for use by type 2 diabetics.
Symilin is a similar drug for use by those on Insulin and can be used by both type 1 and type 2.
I took Byetta a yr or so back for a yr or more and lost alot of wt. while taking it. But had to quit taking it due to money problems do to many other health problems that required alot of meds each month.. I have gained all the wt. back. I take Actos and Ins. each day and now I have to take Forteo injections for osteoprosis for 2 yrs which is terribly expensive. I wish there was more help out there to help people with ins that make more more, but still not enough t buy all the meds we need. I wish I could afford to go back on this drug. I am so frustrated at times that I can't get the help I need with all the medical care I need. I require a cpap mach. and O2 at nite to keep me from dying of apnea and don't get enough O2 while asleep. Anyone else this frustrated??
I'm not sure if Marlene had a response to her question about Byetta, but from what I understand from my doctor it is for Type 2. I am type 1 and am on Symlin. I know that it will work with the pump.
what if you are on the pump with type 1 diabetic>
great information. I will ask my doctor about it.
I most definately will be asking my dr.about this I'm really tryna get my diabetes under controll cuz i'm only 22 and i'd like 2 see 40
I would be very interested in following the progress on the trails on this med. Where can I learn more?
I started taking byetta but they told me to take it every day. it made me sick to my stomach so I had to stop. it was my endocrinologist that prescribed it so I think he knew what he was doing? i hope it works for other people. I also did not loose any weight on it.
I started taking Byetta about 6 months ago, have lost 26 pounds and my blood sugars are almost down to normal.
GREAT NEWS
sounds promising, I am on Insulin, but when it comes out will discuss it with my Primary care Dr. Maybe I can quit insulin.
I tried Byetta but discovered it was not for me. While taking the drug, I would wake up in the mornings and my hands would be completely numb. This condition stopped when I stopped taking Byetta. I now take Januvia instead and do not have this issue.
This was good news. Lets see if it comes to pass soon. Then it will be up to our Dr. to o.k. it
Very informative and encouraging. I was on Byetta for a while but my A1C got low enough that insurance would no longer cover it. I also take insulin.
It would be great to only have to have 1 shot a week, but I think it remains to be seen if it will work with insulin.