Trial reportDiabetologia2014

HARMONY 4: randomised clinical trial comparing once-weekly albiglutide and insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin with or without sulfonylurea.

Peter N Weissman, Molly C Carr, June Ye, Deborah T Cirkel, Murray Stewart, Caroline Perry, Richard Pratley

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · bronzeAbstract readClinical Trial, Phase IIIComparative StudyMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Diabetologia, 2014. The graph read 2 numbers from its abstract, feeding 2 cells of the map, but none could be read as for or against, so it casts no vote. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 59 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

2numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
59citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
15.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

Read, but not usablea number the graph found but could not read as for or against

Glycemic controlcomparator not stated · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
Δ 0.11-0.04 to 0.27
The model-adjusted treatment difference of 0.11% (95% CI -0.04%, 0.27%) (1.2 mmol/mol [95% CI -0.4, 3.0 mmol/mol]) indicated non-inferiority of albiglutide to insulin glargine based on the pre-specified non-inferiority margin of 0.3% (3.3 mmol/mol, p = 0.0086).
Glycemic controlcomparator not stated · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
decrease -2.61-3.20 to -2.02p < 0.0001
Body weight increased in the insulin glargine group and decreased in the albiglutide group, with a mean treatment difference of -2.61 kg (95% CI -3.20, -2.02; p < 0.0001).

clause the extractor read what became the number

2 · Its place on the map

Where it lands on the map

Rows are treatments, columns are outcomes. The coloured squares are the cells this paper feeds, coloured by the vote it casts there. Click one to jump to what this paper adds to it.

supports the treatmentfavours the comparatorno clear differenceread, but no usable result
3 · What it changes

What it adds to each cell

For every cell the paper feeds: the belief in the claim with and without this paper, and this paper's estimate drawn against every other readable study in the cell. The ringed dot is this paper.

GLP-1 receptor agonists×glycemic control

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

40 readable studies in this cell: 96 favour the treatment, 17 find no difference, 10 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.91replicated · 68 families support, 7 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
0 · no effect
NCT017204463,297 enrolled · 2013
Δ -0.66-0.80 to -0.52
NCT036893742,274 enrolled · 2018
Δ -0.29-0.38 to -0.20
NCT039879191,879 enrolled · 2019
Δ -0.51-0.64 to -0.38
NCT026078651,864 enrolled · 2016
Δ -0.50-0.60 to -0.40
NCT013360231,663 enrolled · 2011
Treatment contrast -0.64-0.75 to -0.53
NCT040178321,441 enrolled · 2019
Δ -0.20-0.30 to -0.10
NCT018365231,398 enrolled · 2013
Δ -0.20-0.32 to -0.07
NCT019301881,231 enrolled · 2013
Δ -1.06-1.21 to -0.91
NCT007344741,202 enrolled · 2008
Δ -0.71-0.87 to -0.55
NCT020581471,170 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.29-0.38 to -0.19
NCT003184611,091 enrolled · 2006
Δ -1.09-1.30 to -0.88
NCT021289321,089 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.81-0.96 to -0.67

This paper's own estimate is on a different scale from the rest of the cell, so it is not drawn here.

Insulin×glycemic control

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

40 readable studies in this cell: 15 favour the treatment, 14 find no difference, 14 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.50contested · 9 families support, 6 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the comparatorfavours the treatment →
0 · no effect
NCT036893742,274 enrolled · 2018
Δ -0.29-0.38 to -0.20
NCT037306622,002 enrolled · 2018
Δ -0.99-1.13 to -0.86
NCT013360231,663 enrolled · 2011
Treatment contrast -0.64-0.75 to -0.53
NCT038829701,444 enrolled · 2019
Δ -0.86-1.00 to -0.72
NCT045379231,428 enrolled · 2020
Δ -1.10-1.24 to -0.97
NCT032680051,264 enrolled · 2017
Δ -0.04-0.11 to 0.03
NCT020581471,170 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.78-0.90 to -0.67
NCT021289321,089 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.81-0.96 to -0.67
NCT009606611,036 enrolled · 2009
Δ -0.04-0.18 to 0.11
NCT00856986987 enrolled · 2009
Δ -0.52-0.68 to -0.36
NCT01117350978 enrolled · 2010
Δ 2.54-3.88 to 8.93
NCT03214380933 enrolled · 2017
Δ 0.06-0.05 to 0.16

This paper's own estimate is on a different scale from the rest of the cell, so it is not drawn here.

4 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT00838916 phase3completednot on this map

A Randomized, Open-label, Parallel-group, Multicenter Study to Determine the Efficacy and Long-term Safety of Albiglutide Compared With Insulin in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

TypeinterventionalSponsorGlaxoSmithKlineRan2009 to 2013Enrolled779ConditionsDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Armsalbiglutide, insulin glargine
NCT03199638 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2016, after this paper: background citation

Exercise Snacks and Glutamine to Improve Glucose Control in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

TypeinterventionalSponsorNemours Children's ClinicRan2016 to 2017Enrolled14ConditionsDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Autoimmune Diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Endocrine System DiseasesArmsGlutamine vs. Placebo, Exercise
5 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

59 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 130 citations in OpenAlex.

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6 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

7 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Peter N WeissmanEndocrinology Associates, 7867 N Kendall Dr #80, Miami, FL, 33156, USA, peternweissman@att.net.
Molly C Carr
June Ye
Deborah T Cirkel
Murray Stewart
Caroline Perry
Richard Pratley
GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom) · GBGlaxoSmithKline (United States) · USAge UK · GBTranslational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

8 · The paper itself

Abstract

The marked sentences are the ones the graph read a number from.

aims/hypothesisThe aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of once-weekly albiglutide with once-daily insulin glargine (A21Gly,B31Arg,B32Arg human insulin) in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin with or without sulfonylurea.

methodsThis was a randomised, open-label, multicentre (n = 222), parallel-group, non-inferiority out-patient clinical trial, with 779 patients enrolled in the study. The study was conducted in 222 centres located in four countries. Patients aged ≥18 years with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin (±sulfonylurea) for at least 3 months with a baseline HbA1c 7.0-10.0% (53.0-85.8 mmol/mol) were randomly assigned (2:1) via a computer-generated randomisation sequence with a voice response system to receive albiglutide (30 mg once a week, n = 504) or insulin glargine (10 U once a day, n = 241) added to current therapy. Participants and investigators were not masked to treatment assignment. Doses of each medication were adjusted on the basis of the glycaemic response. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in HbA1c at week 52.

resultsIn the albiglutide group, HbA1c declined from 8.28 ± 0.90% (67.0 ± 9.8 mmol/mol) (mean ± SD) at baseline to 7.62 ± 1.12% (59.8 ± 12.2 mmol/mol) at week 52. A similar reduction occurred in the insulin glargine group (8.36 ± 0.95% to 7.55 ± 1.04% [67.9 ± 10.4 to 59.0 ± 11.4 mmol/mol]). The model-adjusted treatment difference of 0.11% (95% CI -0.04%, 0.27%) (1.2 mmol/mol [95% CI -0.4, 3.0 mmol/mol]) indicated non-inferiority of albiglutide to insulin glargine based on the pre-specified non-inferiority margin of 0.3% (3.3 mmol/mol, p = 0.0086). Body weight increased in the insulin glargine group and decreased in the albiglutide group, with a mean treatment difference of -2.61 kg (95% CI -3.20, -2.02; p < 0.0001). Documented symptomatic hypoglycaemia occurred in a higher proportion of patients in the insulin glargine group than in the albiglutide group (27.4% vs 17.5%, p = 0.0377). CONCLUSIONS/

interpretationAlbiglutide was non-inferior to insulin glargine at reducing HbA1c at week 52, with modest weight loss and less hypoglycaemia. Both drugs were well tolerated. Albiglutide may be considered an alternative to insulin glargine in this patient population.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00838916 (completed)

fundingThis study was planned and conducted by GlaxoSmithKline.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBlood GlucoseDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Drug Administration ScheduleDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleGlucagon-Like Peptide 1HumansHypoglycemic AgentsInsulin GlargineInsulin, Long-ActingMaleMetforminBlood GlucoseGlucagon-Like Peptide 1Hypoglycemic AgentsInsulin GlargineInsulin, Long-ActingMetforminrGLP-1 proteinSulfonylurea Compounds

Identifiers

PMID25208756
OpenAlexW2062098402

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.