Sanofi-aventis reports positive phase III data for diabetes drug

Sanofi-aventis has published positive phase III clinical trial data for lixisenatide, its new developmental treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The once-daily drug has been evaluated in a new study called GetGoal-X, which compared its efficacy among 639 patients to a twice-daily exenatide regimen for 24 weeks.

It was found that Sanofi-aventis' drug demonstrated non-inferiority in reducing glycated haemoglobin levels compared to the control treatment, while also offering a reduced risk of hypoglycaemic events.

Full study data findings are to be presented by the manufacturer at a forthcoming medical congress, while further results from the phase III programme will be released in the second quarter of this year.

Pierre Chancel, senior vice-president for global diabetes at Sanofi-aventis, said: "The lixisenatide clinical development program exemplifies our commitment to people with diabetes and our ambition to help them manage their condition more effectively."

Last week, the company received a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for the approval of Jevtana as a combination prostate cancer treatment.