Once-weekly exenatide approved

Bydureon, an extended-release formulation of exenatide 2mg, has received marketing approval in the EU, making it the first once-weekly GLP-1 agonist to reach the market.

    Exenatide is currently available as a twice-daily subcutaneous injection (Byetta) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in combination with oral antidiabetic drugs. Manufacturer Eli Lilly says Bydureon, formulated with biodegradable microspheres developed by specialist US company Alkermes, reduces HbA_1c by 1.5–1.9% after six months. As with the twice-daily injection, most patients lost weight during treatment.