Saxagliptin Did Not Raise Cancer Risk in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Over a 2-Year Period
June 6, 2015—Boston, Massachusetts—Saxagliptin did not increase cancer risk or mortality over a median follow-up of 2.1 years in the large, high cardiovascular–risk SAVOR-TIMI 53 cohort.
This outcome of the SAVOR-TIMI 53 trial was reported at the American Diabetes Association’s 75th Scientific Sessions, from June 5–9, 2015.
Lawrence A. Leiter, MD, of St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, explained that patients with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of cancer. Nevertheless, few large randomized controlled trials have assessed any effect of specific antihyperglycemic agents on cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Leiter and co-investigators presented results of a secondary analysis of the effect of saxagliptin on cancer in the SAVOR-TIMI 53 cohort. Of the 16,413 participants, 8173 were assigned to placebo, 8240 to saxagliptin.
Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Of the participants, 33% were women, with mean age of 65 years, duration of type 2 diabetes 12 years, HbA1c 8.0%, and blood pressure 137/79 mm Hg.
At baseline, 69% of patients were taking metformin (70% in the saxagliptin group and 69% in the placebo group); 40% sulfonylurea (40% in both groups); and 41% insulin (41% in both groups).
A total of 688 patients developed at least one cancer event after a median follow-up of 2.1 years (47.4% of whom were in the saxagliptin group and 52.6% of whom were in the placebo group). Of cancer-associated deaths, 53 (0.6%) occurred with saxagliptin and 59 (0.7%) with placebo.
Dr. Leiter concluded that saxagliptin was not associated with an increased risk of cancer or cancer mortality in the high cardiovascular–risk SAVOR-TIMI 53 cohort over a median follow-up of 2.1 years.
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