A new international study has found that the diabetes drug albiglutide may help protect people with type 2 diabetes from serious heart problems like heart attack and stroke.
The research was presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and published in The Lancet.
The study, called Harmony-Outcomes, was led by Professor Stefano Del Prato from the University of Pisa in Italy and Professor John McMurray from the University of Glasgow in the UK. It involved nearly 9,500 people with type 2 diabetes who also had existing heart disease. The trial was funded by the drug company GSK.
The researchers wanted to see whether adding albiglutide to regular diabetes treatment could reduce the risk of major heart events, including death from heart problems, heart attack, and stroke. Albiglutide is a type of medication called a GLP-1 receptor agonist. These drugs help control blood sugar and may also have benefits for heart health.
Participants in the study were randomly assigned to receive either albiglutide or a placebo once a week by injection. All participants continued with their usual care. The study was conducted at 610 clinics in 28 different countries and lasted for a median of 1.6 years.
The results showed that people who received albiglutide were 22% less likely to have a major cardiovascular event compared to those who received the placebo.
Specifically, 7.1% of people in the albiglutide group had a serious heart event, compared to 9.0% in the placebo group. That means about one major heart problem was prevented for every 50 people treated with albiglutide over the study period.
Importantly, the safety profile of the drug was good. There were no major differences in serious side effects like pancreatitis or cancer between the albiglutide and placebo groups.
The researchers were very encouraged by the results. Professor Del Prato said the findings add to growing evidence that some GLP-1 receptor agonists can reduce heart problems in people with diabetes. He said this new treatment option gives doctors more tools to help patients avoid life-threatening complications.
Professor McMurray added that the results were just as strong as those seen with traditional heart medications. He said this could be a valuable addition to the range of treatments doctors use to manage heart risk in patients with diabetes.
The researchers concluded that albiglutide, when added to standard care, significantly reduces the risk of heart-related death, heart attack, and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The drug was well tolerated and safe for use during the study.
Although GSK decided to stop other work on albiglutide last year, the company continued to support this study. Dr. John Lepore from GSK said they are now looking for another company to take over development of the drug so that more patients may benefit from it in the future.
This study offers new hope for patients with diabetes and heart disease by showing that albiglutide could be an effective and safe way to lower the risk of serious heart problems.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
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