Rationale and background
Exenatide is an incretin-based novel treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among adults, used as a combination treatment together with other glucose lowering drugs (GLDs) when desirable effects have not been achieved on previous regimens. During the preclinical and clinical development of exenatide, uncertainties were raised around the potential risk for pancreatic cancer. Additional reports from pre-clinical studies and post-marketing adverse event reporting have prompted regulatory communications regarding the potential association between incretin-based drugs, including exenatide, and risk of pancreatic cancer. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use agree that assertions concerning a causal association between incretin-based drugs and pancreatic cancer are inconsistent with the available data, continued investigation of this potential safety issue has been warranted.
Research question and objectives
The primary objective is to estimate the incidence rate (IR) and hazard ratio (HR) for pancreatic cancer associated with exposure to any exenatide (BYETTA or BYDUREON/ BYDUREON BCise), compared with exposure to non-Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) based GLDs, among patients with T2DM. The secondary objective is to estimate the IR and HR for pancreatic cancer associated with exposure to exenatide onceweekly formulation (BYDUREON/ BYDUREON BCise).
Study design
The study will be conducted as a multi-country, long-term, retrospective, observational database study. Initiators of exenatide will be matched to initiators of non-GLP-1 RA based GLDs (comparator group) based on propensity score and calendar period of study entry. All analyses for pancreatic cancer will be conducted in the matched study population using an “”intention-to-treat”” approach.
Population
The study will use information from 14 data sources in 10 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). Patients with T2DM, aged 18 years or older, who initiated treatment with exenatide or non-GLP-1 RA based GLDs during the study period, 2006 to 2023, will be included. The exenatide group will include all eligible initiators of exenatide. The comparator group will include eligible initiators of non-GLP-1 RA based GLDs with no use of exenatide before or during the study period.
Variables
Exposure to exenatide and non-GLP-1 RA based GLDs will be ascertained from recordings of prescriptions or insurance claims registrations as available in the different data sources. The outcome of pancreatic cancer will be defined as a primary diagnosis of pancreatic cancer during follow-up and ascertained from cancer registers or diagnosis codes. Baseline characteristics and variables included in the propensity score will be based on information on demographic and sociodemographic characteristics, prescription drug use, and medical history.