By Shannon Pettypiece and Elizabeth Lopatto - 2012-06-12T04:01:00Z
Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) may have an edge in the $20 billion diabetes market with its novel drug that matches Sanofis top-seller Lantus at controlling blood sugar while helping patients lose weight.
Patients with Type 2 diabetes taking Lillys experimental insulin lost an average of 1.28 pounds after 12 weeks compared with a weight gain of 0.68 pounds with Lantus, according to data released at the American Diabetes Association meeting.
The new therapy, known by the scientific name LY2605541, is being developed with Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH as part of a deal the two companies struck in 2011 to work on diabetes drugs. If similar results are found in a larger study, it may be the first insulin to help patients lose weight, providing an edge over Lantus and an experimental treatment from Novo Nordisk A/S (NOVOB), said Mark Schoenebaum, an analyst with ISI Group.
Even modest, but real, weight loss could be a major commercial advantage over other basal insulins, in our opinion, Schoenebaum said in a note to clients.
Its not clear how the experimental insulin is causing weight loss. Most insulin causes slight weight gain, a particular problem for patients with Type 2 diabetes, who are usually overweight, said David Kendall, a medical fellow at Indianapolis-based Lilly.
Insulin therapy in particular are important to improve glucose control and to do so as safely as possible, Kendall said in a telephone interview. We want to understand the weight-loss mechanism.
The studies released yesterday at the diabetes meeting are the second of three stages of testing generally required to gain U.S. approval. The insulin now is being tested in five Phase 3 studies. Data from those studies may be submitted to regulators as early as 2014, said Enrique Conterno, the president of Lillys diabetes unit.
Lilly plans more studies to determine whats causing the weight loss, Kendall said.
More than 8 percent of Americans, or 25.8 million people, have diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among those diagnosed, 26 percent are taking insulin to treat their condition, according to the CDC.
More here:
Lilly Targets Sanofi Diabetes Top-Seller on Weight Loss
