Semaglutide is a once-weekly analogue of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that stimulates insulin and suppresses glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, while decreasing appetite and food intake. The SUSTAIN 7 trial (40week head-to-head trial) investigated the efficacy and safety of 0.5mg semaglutide vs. 0.75mg dulaglutide and 1.0mg semaglutide vs. 1.5mg dulaglutide, when added to metformin in 1, 201 patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Semaglutide treated group experienced statistically greater HbA1c and body weight reductions compared to those treated with dulaglutide. From a mean baseline of 8.2%, HbA1c reduction was greater with semaglutide 0.5mg than with dulaglutide 0.75mg (1.5 % vs. 1.1 %) as well as with semaglutide 1mg than with dulaglutide 1.5mg (1.8 % vs. 1.4 %; P < .0001). Significantly more individuals in the semaglutide treated group than the dulaglutide treated group, at both dose levels, achieved the ADA treatment target of HbA1c below 7.0% (68% and 79% on 0.5mg and 1.0mg semaglutide vs. 52% and 67% on 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg dulaglutide). Furthermore, from a mean baseline of 95.2 kg, reduction in body weight was also greater in the semaglutide 0.5mg group than the dulaglutide 0.75mg group (4.6 kg vs. 2.3 kg; P < .0001) as well as in the semaglutide 1mg group than the dulaglutide 1.5mg group (6.5 kg vs. 3 kg; P < .0001). The overall safety profiles of both the drugs were also similar in SUSTAIN 7.

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Sanofi India has launched the next generation basal insulin ‘Toujeo’ in the country. Toujeo is a once-daily, long-acting basal analog insulin approved for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes to improve glycaemic control in adult patients.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a constant fear amongst people on insulin.Toujeo has been shown to effectively lower blood glucose while minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia. It works by slowly releasing small amounts of insulin toprovide continuous glucose-lowering activity that lasts beyond 24 hours. Toujeo has a stable and flat/peak-less action profile that helps reduce glycemic variability, i.e. the daily highs and lows that diabetes patients on insulin may experience.

Toujeo was first approved in 2015 in the US and since then, has been approved in over 65 countries worldwide. Toujeo is a prescription drug and is available in the newly designed, simple and easy to use pre-filled SoloSTAR pen.

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