Lilly’s Easy-to Use Once-Weekly GLP-1 Agonist Trulicity Approved in Europe
Twitter Summary: Lilly’s Trulicity, a once-weekly GLP-1 agonist available in US, has now been approved in Europe
On November 25, Eli Lilly’s Trulicity (dulaglutide) was approved in Europe for type 2 diabetes. Trulicity was launched in the U.S. earlier this month following FDA approval of the drug in September – a rare case of a US launch ahead of Europe! Lilly has indicated that the once-weekly injectable drug will be launched in Europe next year. There is no word yet on reimbursement information for Trulicity in Europe.
Trulicity improves patient convenience with its user-friendly autoinjector device (like an EpiPen), the first available for this class of drugs. After pushing a button, the Trulicity pen injects a hidden needle into the skin, administers the drug, and withdraws the needle back into the device. This autoinjector design aims to eliminate some of the stress associated with “needle phobia.” Trulicity is available in 0.75 and 1.5mg doses. Trulicity is also a once-weekly GLP-1 agonist that is ready-to-use without reconstitution in the same way that once-daily GLP-1 agonists already are. Other than Trulicity, there are two other once-weekly GLP-1 agonists currently available: AstraZeneca’s Bydureon (exenatide) and GlaxoSmithKline’s Tanzeum/Eperzan (albiglutide). Both of these drugs require multiple steps and at least 10 minutes (mostly mixing time) to prepare the injection.
For more information on Trulicity’s clinical results and safety information, please read our past new now next in diatribe #69 or view the drug label. Read here for more information on the class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists. –MH
