Sanofi touts promising Ph3 results for blockbuster diabetes program

Sanofi clearly impressed analysts with a new round of promising Phase III results on lixisenatide, its GLP-1 drug for diabetes. Sticking with the headline results for now, investigators reported that the treatment tied with basal insulin significantly lowered blood sugar levels as well as the weight of Type 2 diabetes patients. And that outcome will help set up the diabetes treatment as a potential blockbuster addition to its lineup of late-stage therapeutics.

Sanofi in-licensed lixisenatide from Zealand Pharma and would clearly like to pair it with Lantus, its insulin product which garnered some €3.5 billion last year. And Jefferies analysts cheered on the data regarding weight loss, which they believe will help ensure the treatment's "blockbuster success."

"These positive efficacy and safety results are another important milestone in the GetGoal clinical trial program and show the potential value of adding Lyxumia (lixisenatide) to basal insulin to improve glycemic control," said Pierre Chancel, Senior Vice President, Global Diabetes Division at Sanofi. "The findings from this and previous studies reinforce a continuing positive trend demonstrating the potential of lixisenatide to improve the lives of people with type 2 diabetes."

GetGoal-L is one of nine studies in the GetGoal Phase III clinical program, and the second trial to investigate the benefits of lixisenatide 20μg once-daily combined with basal insulin.

- here's the Sanofi release
- read the story from Reuters

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