BYDUREON BCise Injectable medicine now available in the US for type-2 diabetes patients

The new formulation is proven to reduce blood sugar levels and may have the added benefit of weight loss.

BYDUREON BCise is a new formulation of BYDUREON (exenatide extended-release) injectable suspension 2 mg in an improved once-weekly, single-dose autoinjector device. It is designed for patient ease and convenience in a pre-filled device with a pre-attached hidden needle. The new formulation of BYDUREON BCise is proven to reduce blood sugar levels and may have the added benefit of weight loss, although not a weight loss medicine. The medication is administered in three simple steps – mix, unlock, inject.

Rod Wooten, Vice President, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, AstraZeneca, said: "We're pleased that BYDUREON BCise is now available for adults with type 2 diabetes. This new formulation helps to provide consistent glycemic control, in addition to the powerful HbA1c reductions and added benefit of weight loss, now in a simply improved device."

Across two clinical trials, average HbA1c reductions of up to 1.4% and average weight loss of up to 3.1 pounds were achieved when used as monotherapy or as an add-on to metformin, a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione, or any combination of two of these oral antidiabetic medicines at 28 weeks. The most common adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients in clinical trials were nausea (8.2%) and adverse events associated with injection-site nodules (10.5%).

Virginia Valentine APRN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, said: "Managing type 2 diabetes is complicated and requires daily attention to meal planning, exercise and medications. A once-weekly prescription option in an easy-to-use device, like BYDUREON BCise, can help simplify a patient's regimen and help them achieve diabetes control goals."