Once-weekly exenatide as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a progressive disease that requires pharmacologic treatment to prevent microvascular and macrovascular complications. As the disease progresses, most patients require combination therapy to achieve glucose control targets. Exenatide once weekly (EQW) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist approved in the United States in 2012 for use as a second-line agent to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus. EQW has shown reductions in HbA1c and weight without causing an increased risk of hypoglycemia. This review will summarize the current clinical trial, observational study, and pharmacoeconomic analyses evaluating EQW and its impact on HbA1c and weight.