Diabetes Drug Test Boosts Amylin and Lilly

A long-acting diabetes drug from Amylin Pharmaceuticals(AMLN Quote) and Eli Lilly(LLY Quote) allows diabetes patients to control their blood sugar levels better than currently approved drugs, according to results from a phase III study released today.

The drug, Byetta LAR, is given as a once-weekly injection. In a 30-week study, Type 2 diabetes patients on Byetta LAR achieved a 1.9% improvement in A1C, a key measure of glucose (blood sugar) control. This compares to an A1C improvement of 1.5% for patients using regular Byetta injection, a currently approved drug that is given twice a day.

This result showed Byetta LAR to be statistically superior vs. regular Byetta. ...