Albiglutide: a Review of Its Use in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Albiglutide (Eperzan(®), Tanzeum(®)), administered subcutaneously once weekly, is a glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in several countries. Albiglutide has a longer half-life than native GLP-1, since it is resistant to degradation by the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme. As an incretin mimetic, albiglutide enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses inappropriate glucagon secretion, delays gastric emptying and reduces food intake. Several phase III clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of albiglutide in terms of improving glycaemic control in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes, including its use as monotherapy or add-on therapy to other antidiabetic agents (e.g. metformin, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones and insulins). In addition to improving glycaemic control, albiglutide had beneficial effects on bodyweight. These improvements in glycaemic control and reductions in bodyweight were maintained during long-term treatment (up to 3 years). Albiglutide was generally well tolerated in clinical trials, with mild to moderate gastrointestinal adverse events seen most commonly. Albiglutide has a convenient once-weekly administration regimen and a low risk of hypoglycaemia (except when used in combination with agents that may be associated with hypoglycaemia, such as sulfonylureas or insulin). Thus, albiglutide is an effective and generally well tolerated treatment option for patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.