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Impact of interleukin-1β antibody (canakinumab) on glycaemic indicators in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: results of secondary endpoints from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Hensen J, Howard CP, Walter V, Thuren T

Diabetes & metabolism, 2013

551 participants

Abstract

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: This study was conducted to determine the optimal monthly subcutaneous dose of canakinumab (a human monoclonal anti-human IL-1β antibody) needed to improve glucose control in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS: This was a parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the effect on HbA(1c) and the safety/tolerability of four monthly doses of canakinumab (5, 15, 50, or 150 mg) as an add-on to metformin over 4 months.

RESULTS: Patients (n=551; mean age 54.1 years; mean baseline HbA(1c) 7.4%) were randomized and treated in a double-blind fashion to canakinumab 5 mg (n=93), 15 mg (n=95), 50 mg (n=92), 150 mg (n=92) or placebo (n=179) monthly. There was no dose response detected between active canakinumab doses, but all doses numerically lowered HbA(1c) (primary endpoint) from baseline between 0.19% and 0.31% (placebo-unadjusted), with maximal effect noted in the 50mg dose of canakinumab (-0.18% difference vs placebo; multiplicity-adjusted, P=0.13902) as reported earlier (Ridker et al., 2012). No other glycaemic control parameters (FPG, fasting insulin, plasma glucose AUC(0-4h), 2-h PPG, peak glucose, C-peptide AUC(0-4h), peak C-peptide, insulin AUC(0-4h), peak insulin, ISR(0-2h), HOMA-β and HOMA-IR) showed any meaningful changes by canakinumab therapy. Canakinumab treatment was safe and well tolerated. There were no relevant differences in adverse events between the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 551 participants or records.

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