NIH begins recruitment for long-term study of diabetes drug efficacy

Newly diagnosed diabetic patients are being recruited for a large national study to compare benefits and risks of four type 2 diabetes drug classes in combination with metformin.

Beginning recruitment in June, the project is called the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness (GRADE) Study. The treatments under comparison are sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists and long-acting insulin. The study will compare drugs' effects on glucose levels, adverse events, diabetes complications and quality of life over an average of nearly five years, according to an NIH press release.

GRADE aims to enroll about 5,000 patients. Investigators at 37 study sites are seeking patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last five years. They may be on metformin, but not on any other diabetes medication. During the study, all participants will take metformin, along with a second medication randomly assigned from among the four classes. Participants will have their diabetes medications managed free of charge through the study, including at least four medical visits per year, but will receive other health care through their own clinicians.

More information about the study is available online.