Diabetes Drug Exenatide Lessens Weight Gain

Filed in archive Treatment on August 31, 2006

During a trial to test the effects of the new drug exenatide on Type 2 diabetes, researchers discovered an apparent side effect: many of the study's participants lost weight, in addition to experiencing regulated blood sugar levels.

The study found that 18 percent of Type 2 diabetes patients given exenatide reached target blood sugar levels recommended by the international diabetes federation, compared with 9 percent of patients taking Novo Nordisk's NovoMix 30 insulin treatment. The IDF recommends a blood sugar level of 6.5 percent.

Also, patients taking exenatide lost an average 5.5 pounds after a year of treatment, compared with people in the insulin group, who gained an average of 6.4 pounds.

Exenatide is the first drug in a new class of medicines known as incretin mimetics, or compounds that mimic glucose lowering hormones in the body.

I have a feeling everyone will be using this drug soon.