Inhaled technosphere insulin versus inhaled technosphere placebo in insulin-näive subjects with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetes agents

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and safety of prandial Technosphere inhaled insulin (TI), an inhaled insulin with a distinct time action profile, in insulin-näive type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetes agents (OADs). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Subjects with T2D with HbA_1c levels ≥7.5% (58.5 mmol/mol) and ≤10.0% (86.0 mmol/mol) onmetformin alone or two ormore OADs were randomized to add-on prandial TI (n = 177) or prandial Technosphere inhaled placebo (TP) (n = 176) to their OAD regimen in this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Primary end point was change in HbA_1c at 24 weeks. RESULTS TI significantly reduced HbA_1c by20.8% (29.0mmol/mol) from a baseline of 8.3% (66.8 mmol/mol) compared with TP 20.4% (24.6 mmol/mol) (treatment difference 20.4% [95% CI 20.57, 20.23]; P < 0.0001). More TI-treated subjects achieved an HbA_1c ≤7.0%(53.0mmol/mol) (38% vs. 19%; P = 0.0005). Mean fasting plasma glucose was similarly reduced in both groups. Postprandial hyperglycemia, based on 7-point glucose profiles, was effectively controlled by TI. Mean weight change was 0.5 kg for TI and21.1 kg for the TP group (P < 0.0001). Mild, transient dry cough was themost common adverse event, occurring similarly in both groups (TI, 23.7%; TP, 19.9%) and led to discontinuation in only 1.1% of TI-treated and 3.4%of TP-treated subjects. There was a small decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s in both groups, with a slightly larger decline in the group receiving TI (TI, 20.13 L; TP, 20.04 L). The difference resolved after treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS Prandial TI added to one or more OADs in inadequately controlled T2D is an effective treatment option. Mild, transient dry cough was the most common adverse event.