A patient injects herself with an insulin pen.
Guido Krzykowski | Bloomberg | Getty Images
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Good evening! Competition between Eli Lilly And Novo Nordisk It extends beyond a crowded class of weight-loss and diabetes drugs called GLP-1s.
The two companies are also competing to develop once-weekly insulin injections.
These injections can provide a longer-lasting, more convenient option than daily insulin and other common diabetes management treatments.
People with type 1 diabetes need insulin daily. Meanwhile, nearly a third of people with type 2 diabetes need insulin injections to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range, according to some estimates. But some resist or delay treatment due to discomfort and pain, among other reasons, which can worsen their health in the long term.
Successful weekly injections are also critical for Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to maintain dominance in the insulin market. Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and French drugmaker Sanofi account for nearly 90% of the U.S. insulin market, and have faced political pressure to make life-sustaining diabetes treatments more affordable.
The race to develop a less frequent insulin heated up Thursday after Eli Lilly released positive preliminary data from two late-stage clinical trials of its weekly injection, called efsitora, in patients with type 2 diabetes. The company is also studying the experimental drug in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Efsitora is Eli Lilly's answer to Novo Nordisk's experimental weekly insulin injection, codec.
In a note Friday, TD Cowen analyst Steve Scala said the new data on Eli Lilly's efsitora appears “competitive” but “slightly inferior” to Novo Nordisk's codec when compared across clinical trials. He added that Eli Lilly's shot is one to two years behind Novo Nordisk's shot.
Icodec was recently recommended for approval in Europe. An FDA advisory committee is also meeting on Friday to discuss Novo Nordisk's application for approval in the United States.
An employee checks vials of insulin at the US pharmaceutical company Lilly's factory in Wegerchem, eastern France.
Patrick Herzog | AFP | Getty Images
Let's dive into Eli Lilly's new data.
The pharmaceutical giant said efsitora was as effective in controlling blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes as commonly used daily insulin injections in two trials.
In one trial, called QWINT-2, Eli Lilly compared insulin to a daily injection called insulin degludec. Novo Nordisk sells this product under the brand name Tresiba.
Patients in the trial were first-time insulin users and some were also taking GLP-1 medication.
At the end of 52 weeks, patients taking efsitora saw a 1.34% decrease in their A1C level — a marker of blood sugar levels over three months — compared with a 1.26% decrease for insulin Degludec. Eli Lilly added that its injection was as effective at lowering A1C levels as daily insulin, regardless of whether patients were taking GLP-1 in the study.
The second study, called QWINT-4, compared the effectiveness of Eli Lilly's drug to a daily injection called insulin glargine. Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and other drug companies sell this treatment under different brand names.
The trial studied efsitora in a group of diabetic patients who had previously received several daily insulin injections. After 26 weeks, both the new weekly injections of Eli Lilly and insulin glargine reduced A1C levels by 1.07%.
Eli Lilly said patients were “safe and well-tolerated” in both studies. The company will present full data from the QWINT-2 trial at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in September. Eli Lilly also expects to have preliminary results from three other late-stage studies later this year.
We'll be watching to see what that data looks like.
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
Latest healthcare technologies
Uber announces new features for caregivers
Uber signs are seen on August 20, 2020 at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California.
Robin Beck | AFP | Getty Images
Uber It recently announced a new feature that will make it easier for users to support their loved ones.
The feature, called Uber Caregiver, will allow individuals to add their caregivers directly to their profiles starting this summer. By doing this, caregivers can book trips for the people they support and order medical supplies, meals and groceries on their behalf.
Swathi Bhat, head of product at Uber Health, said the company knows that it's not just doctors and nurses who provide care to others. In fact, she noted, nearly 25% of Americans identify as caregivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Caring for an elderly loved one can often be financially, mentally and time-consuming. That's why we're launching Uber Caregiver this summer,” Bhatt said at Uber's annual Go-Get product showcase in New York City last week.
Uber Caregiver represents an expansion of Uber's existing healthcare offerings. Bhatt's team helps healthcare providers and insurance companies arrange patient transportation, as well as deliver prescriptions, groceries and other over-the-counter items through the Uber Health dashboard.
By bringing many of these features directly to caregivers' fingertips, it will be easier for lay people to help coordinate care, Bhatt said.
Uber defines a caregiver as any trusted person over the age of 18. This feature will allow three-way conversations between drivers, passengers and caregivers.
Additionally, Uber said user insurance benefits can be applied where applicable to help reduce out-of-pocket costs. Uber Caregiver will initially support Medicaid recipients, customers 65 or older with Medicare Advantage, and users with commercial insurance from their employers.
Caregivers can sign up to be notified when other insurance providers are supported by this feature.
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas, and pitches to Ashley at ashley.capoot@nbcuni.com.
