Liraglutide pharmacokinetics and dose-exposure response in Asian subjects with Type 2 diabetes from China, India and South Korea

Aims To investigate the population pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationship of liraglutide, a human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, in Asian subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. MethodsData were derived from a published 16-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, parallel-group trial of liraglutide in China, India and South Korea. The analysis utilized 2061 pharmacokinetic (PK) samples from 605 subjects exposed to liraglutide 0.6, 1.2 or 1.8mg once daily. Demographic factors (body weight, age, gender, country) of importance for liraglutide clearance were evaluated. An exploratory exposure-response analysis was conducted to investigate effects on glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) and body weight. ResultsEstimated liraglutide exposure (area under the curve; AUC) appeared to increase proportionally with increasing liraglutide dose (0.6-1.8. mg). The covariate analysis confirmed previous findings in a global clinical trial. Body weight was a predictor of liraglutide exposure; compared to a reference subject of 67. kg, exposure was 32% lower for maximum (115. kg) and 54% higher for minimum (37. kg) observed body weights. Gender, age and country had no relevant effect on exposure. Exposure-response analysis supported the use of 1.2. mg as maintenance dose with the option of individual dose escalation to 1.8. mg to optimize treatment outcomes. ConclusionsExposure appeared to increase proportionally with increasing liraglutide dose in Asian subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The only PK relevant predictor of exposure was body weight. The exposure-response relationships for HbA_1c and body weight in Asian subjects were similar to observations in global populations.