AstraZeneca’s Bydureon EXSCEL trial meets type-2 diabetes safety objective

AstraZeneca has reported top-line results from the Phase IIIb/IV EXSCEL (EXenatide Study of Cardiovascular Event Lowering) trial that compared the effect of once-weekly Bydureon (exenatide extended-release) versus placebo, when added to usual type-2 diabetes care, on the risk of MACE, a composite endpoint of CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke, in adults with type-2 diabetes (T2D) at a wide range of CV risk.

The company said that the trial met its primary safety objective of non-inferiority for MACE. These results address the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement that medicines to treat T2D are not associated with an increase in CV risk. Fewer CV events were observed in the Bydureon arm of the trial, however, the efficacy objective of a superior reduction in MACE did not reach statistical significance. Data were consistent with the known safety profile of Bydureon.

Elisabeth Björk, Vice President, Head of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Global Medicines Development, AstraZeneca, said: “These top-line results from the EXSCEL trial provide robust evidence of the cardiovascular safety profile of Bydureon across a wide range of patients with type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, the trial design and broad inclusion criteria of EXSCEL offer physicians relevant data applicable to clinical practice.”