A Study Comparing the Effects and Safety of Dulaglutide With Glimepiride in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

HbA1c is a form of hemoglobin that is measured primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time. Least Squares (LS) means were calculated using mixed model repeated measures (MMRM) analysis adjusting for treatment, country, pre-study therapy stratum, visit, and treatment-by-visit as fixed effects; baseline HbA1c as covariate; and participant as a random effect.

Percentages of participants who achieved HbA1c levels of <7% or ≤6.5% were analyzed using a logistic regression model, controlling for treatment, pre-treatment, baseline HbA1c and country.

FBG is a test to determine how much glucose (sugar) is in a blood sample after an overnight fast. FBG was measured by a central laboratory. LS means were calculated using MMRM analysis adjusting for treatment, country, pre-study therapy stratum, visit, and treatment-by-visit as fixed effects; baseline FBG as covariate; and participant as a random effect.

Change from baseline in mean daily blood glucose (BG) values were measured with a 7-point SMBG profile. Participants recorded their 7-point SMBG profiles on 2 separate, non-consecutive days during the 2-week period immediately before randomization, Week 8, Week 16, and Week 26 (or the Early Discontinuation Visit). The 7-point SMBG profile consisted of pre-prandial BG measures before the morning (fasting), midday, and evening meals; BG measures 2 hours after the start (post-prandial) of the morning, midday, and evening meals; and BG measures at bedtime. Mean at 26 weeks was assessed in all treatment groups. LS means were calculated using MMRM analysis adjusting for treatment, country, pre-study therapy stratum, visit, and treatment-by-visit as fixed effects; baseline body weight as covariate; and participant as a random effect.

Hypoglycemic episodes are defined as events that are associated with reported signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and/or documented BG concentrations of ≤70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (≤3.9 mmol/L). A severe hypoglycemic episode was defined as any hypoglycemic event for which the participant required the assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrate, glucagon, or other resuscitative actions. Nocturnal hypoglycemia is defined as any hypoglycemic event that occurs between bedtime and waking. Log mean rates of total hypoglycemia (per 30 days per participant) are presented and were calculated from negative binomial regression model. The model included country/region, prior medication group, treatment, visit, and treatment-by-visit interaction. The logarithm of days between visits was adjusted as an offset to account for possible unequal duration between visits and between participants.

The overall number of participants with self-reported hypoglycemic episodes is presented.

Change from baseline in HOMA2-%B was assessed by using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) to quantify β-cell function. HOMA2-%B is a computer model that uses FBG, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations to estimate steady state β-cell function (%B) as a percentage of a normal reference population (normal young adults). The normal reference population was set at 100%. LS means were calculated using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model with country, baseline, pre-treatment, and treatment as fixed effects.

Change from baseline in HOMA2-%S was assessed by using the HOMA to quantify insulin sensitivity. HOMA2-%S is a computer model that uses fasting plasma insulin and glucose concentrations to estimate steady state insulin sensitivity (%S) as a percentage of a normal reference population (normal young adults). The normal reference population was set at 100%. LS means were calculated using an ANCOVA model with country, baseline, pre-treatment, and treatment as fixed effects.

Amylase (total and pancreas-derived) and lipase concentrations were measured.

Sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. LS means were calculated using MMRM analysis adjusting for treatment, country, pre-study therapy stratum, visit, and treatment-by-visit as fixed effects; baseline blood pressure as covariate; and participant as a random effect.

LS means were calculated using MMRM analysis adjusting for treatment, country, pre-study therapy stratum, visit, and treatment-by-visit as fixed effects; baseline pulse rate as covariate; and participant as a random effect.

The QT interval is a measure of the time between the start of the Q wave and the end of the T wave and was calculated from electrocardiogram (ECG) data using Fridericia's formula: QTcF = QT/RR^0.33. Corrected QT (QTc) is the QT interval corrected for heart rate and R-R wave (RR), which is the interval between two R waves. PR is the interval between the P wave and the ventricular depolarization wave (QRS) complex.

LS means were calculated using MMRM analysis adjusting for treatment, country, pre-study therapy stratum, visit, and treatment-by-visit as fixed effects; baseline body weight as covariate; and participant as a random effect.

BMI is an estimate of body fat based on body weight divided by height squared. LS means were calculated using MMRM analysis adjusting for treatment, country, pre-study therapy stratum, visit, and treatment-by-visit as fixed effects; baseline body weight as covariate; and participant as a random effect.

Dulaglutide anti-drug antibodies (ADA) were assessed at baseline and 26 weeks. A participant was considered to have treatment-emergent dulaglutide ADA if the participant had at least 1 titer that was treatment-emergent relative to baseline, defined as a 4-fold or greater increase in titer from baseline measurement.

Deaths and nonfatal cardiovascular adverse events (AEs) were adjudicated by a committee of physicians with cardiology expertise external to the Sponsor. The nonfatal cardiovascular AEs that were adjudicated included myocardial infarction; hospitalization for unstable angina; hospitalization for heart failure; coronary interventions (such as coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous coronary intervention); and cerebrovascular events, including cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and transient ischemic attack. A summary of serious and other non-serious AEs regardless of causality, is located in the Reported Adverse Events module.

The number of adjudicated (by an independent committee of expert physicians) pancreatic events is summarized at 26 weeks. A summary of serious and other non-serious AEs regardless of causality is located in the Reported Adverse Events module.

The EQ-5D questionnaire is a widely used, generic questionnaire that assesses 5 dimensions associated with quality of life (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression). Each dimension has 3 possible levels of response: no problem, some problem, and extreme problem. Additional categories of response include ambiguous and missing. The number of participants per each of the 5 response categories is summarized for each of the 5 dimensions.

The EQ-5D questionnaire is a widely used, generic questionnaire that assesses health-related quality of life and consists of a 100-milliliter (mm) visual analog scale (VAS) on which the participant rated their perceived health state on that day from 0-mm (worst imaginable health state) to 100-mm (best imaginable health state).