Bydureon Vs. Trulicity: Drug Comparison

Bydureon BCise^® (exenatide extended-release) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used to improve blood sugar control in adults and pediatric patients (10 years or older) with type 2 diabetes. It works by enhancing insulin secretion, slowing stomach emptying, and reducing the release of glucagon, helping to lower blood sugar levels. The FDA-approved indication for Bydureon BCise is the management of type 2 diabetes, typically in combination with diet and exercise. It is not indicated for type 1 diabetes. It is available as a once-weekly injectable suspension in a pre-filled autoinjector. Common side effects include nausea, injection site reactions, and diarrhea, while serious warnings include a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors.

Trulicity^® (dulaglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It acts as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing glucagon production. Additionally, Trulicity is indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Administered once weekly, Trulicity can be used alone or with other diabetes medications. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. It should be used cautiously in individuals with a history of pancreatitis​.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Bydureon BCise (exenatide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors

• Typically taken as an injection once weekly

• Comes in an extended-release injectable suspension: 2 mg of exenatide in a 0.85 mL single-dose autoinjector

• Typically taken as an injection once weekly

• Comes in 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg, and 4.5 mg per 0.5 mL single-dose pens

Most common (≥5%) in clinical trials:

• Injection-site nodule

• Nausea

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Decreased appetite

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to exenatide or any of the product components

• History of drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia from exenatide products

• Drug interactions: orally administered medication, warfarin

• Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to dulaglutide or any of the product components

• Drug interactions: Trulicity delays gastric emptying and has the potential to reduce the rate of absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• Acute pancreatitis

• Low blood sugar with concomitant use of insulin secretagogues or insulin

• Acute kidney injury

• Gastrointestinal disease

• Immunogenicity-associated decreased glycemic control

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia

• Serious injection-site reactions

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Thyroid C-cell tumors

• Pancreatitis

• Low blood sugar: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Acute kidney injury

• Severe gastrointestinal disease

• Diabetic retinopathy complications

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Pregnancy: Should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to fetus

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Exenatide extended-release causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in rats. It is unknown whether Bydureon BCise causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in humans, as the human relevance of exenatide extended-release-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Bydureon BCise is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and the symptoms of thyroid tumors.

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Dulaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats. It is unknown whether Trulicity causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of dulaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Trulicity is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors.

*This information is from the label for brand name Bydureon BCise^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Exenatide, the active ingredient in Bydureon BCise, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient exenatide.

*This information is from the label for brand name Trulicity^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information.