A combination therapy of metformin and Invokana is more effective in treating drug-naïve type 2 diabetes patients compared to single therapy with either drug, according to new research.
Researchers at the Dallas Diabetes and Endocrine Centre at Medical City, United States aimed to investigate if Invokana (the trade name of canagliflozin), an SGLT2 inhibitor, could effectively and safely be used alongside metformin in type 2 diabetes patients not taking medication.
They evaluated data from a phase III study conducted at 158 health centres in 12 countries between May 2013 and December 2014. 1,186 drug-naïve patients were monitored; of whom the mean age was 54.9 years and mean type 2 diabetes duration was 3.3 years.
Across 26 weeks, patients were randomised to 100mg canagliflozin plus metformin, 300mg canagliflozin plus metformin, 100mg canagliflozi, 300mg canagliflozin or metformin.
The primary aim of the researchers was to assess changes in HbA1c, but changes in fasting plasma glucose and body weight were also observed.
Greater reductions from baseline HbA1c were found in the combination therapy groups compared to monotherapy with either metformin or canagliflozin.
Those taking combination therapy also had more significant reductions in body weight. Serious adverse events were low across all groups.
“Initial therapy with CANA plus MET was more effective and generally well tolerated versus each monotherapy in drug-naïve type 2 diabetes,” the researchers concluded.
The findings were published in Diabetes Care.
