Hertzel Gerstein
The findings of a global study on the cardiovascular and renal outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes receiving a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist drug, called efpeglenatide, were released today in The New England Journal of Medicine, and at the virtual 2021 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions.
Hertzel Gerstein, PHRI Deputy Director and Senior Scientist, presented at a symposium dedicated to the findings of the multinational AMPLITUDE O clinical trial, of which he was a principal investigator and global chair. (Download AMPLITUDE O ADA Presentation – June 28-2021 slides.)
AMPLITUDE O was conducted in 28 countries and included more than 4,000 participants with type 2 diabetes. Over two years those patients who were assigned weekly injections of efpeglenatide versus placebo had a 27% lower risk of kidney disease progression; and a 27% lower risk of a heart attack, stroke or death from any cause.
Most T2D patients have 1+ comorbid chronic condition
The significance of the findings is reflected in the fact that the majority (98%) of adults with type 2 diabetes today have at least one comorbid chronic condition. In fact, almost a quarter of people living with diabetes have kidney disease, 22% have cardiovascular disease, and 82% of them have hypertension – a leading cause of heart disease.
“We are encouraged that this once-a-week injection safely and effectively reduced cardiovascular and progression of kidney disease in patients with long-standing diabetes who had a high prevalence of cardiovascular and kidney disease,” says Dr. Gerstein.
He discusses the AMPLITUDE O trial’s results, with NEJM’s Joe Elia and Dr. Ole-Petter Hamnvik in this NEJM Journal Watch video.
