1198-P: The M-EASE Studies: A Modeling and Simulation Approach to Further Characterize the Efficacy of Low-Dose Empagliflozin as Adjunctive to Insulin Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM)
Authors: PERKINS BRUCE A. , SOLEYMANLOU NIMA , ROSENSTOCK JULIO , SKYLER JAY S. , LAFFEL LORI M. , LIESENFELD KARL-HEINZ , NEUBACHER DIETMAR , RIGGS MATTHEW , JOHNSTON CURTIS K. , EUDY-BYRNE RENA J. , ELMOKADEM AHMED , GEORGE JYOTHIS , MARQUARD JAN , NOCK VALERIE C. 
Published: June 2019

Among the two phase 3 trials of empagliflozin (EMPA) in T1DM, one (EASE-3), demonstrated diabetic ketoacidosis risk minimization by including a lower dose (2.5 mg) than approved for use in T2DM while maintaining HbA1c benefit of -0.28%. We aimed to determine the effect of HbA1c lowering of EMPA 2.5 mg by modelling and simulation in the phase 3 trial (EASE-2) that did not investigate this dose. The effect of insulin adjustment on HbA1c was also characterized.

Independent of empiric data from EASE-3 (that evaluated EMPA 2.5 mg), M-EASE-2, an empirical model, evaluated the direct effect of EMPA exposure on changes in HbA1c after simulated 26- and 52-week treatment durations in the EASE-2 study. M-EASE-2 model development was informed by EASE-2 and EASE-1 (phase 2 study, included EMPA 2.5 mg) data. M-EASE-1, a semi-mechanistic model (informed by EASE-1 and EASE-2 data), simulated changes in HbA1c after a 26-week treatment period (with/without insulin dose adjustment) driven by changes in EMPA exposure, insulin dose and mean daily glucose. Trial simulations were conducted in 239 and 500 patients per dose group in M-EASE-2/-1, respectively. The models were validated using EASE-3 trial data.

In M-EASE-2, the simulated mean (median; 95% CI) HbA1c change for EMPA 2.5 mg was -0.29% (-0.29; -0.39, -0.19) at Week 26 and -0.29% (-0.29; -0.40, -0.19) at Week 52. The simulations performed were consistent with EASE-3 results. In M-EASE-1, the 26-week HbA1c change for EMPA 2.5 mg was -0.28% (-0.28; -0.40, -0.09) and -0.41% (-0.40; -0.53, -0.20) with adjusted and stable insulin therapy, respectively.

The HbA1c benefit from low-dose EMPA 2.5 mg that was directly observed in a phase 3 clinical trial was confirmed using two modelling approaches from independent studies. Efficacy was sustained over 52 weeks, and the approach predicted that greater efficacy of EMPA as adjunct to insulin in T1DM can be achieved on a stable vs. variable insulin dose.

Disclosure

B.A. Perkins: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Insulet Corporation. Research Support; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. Other Relationship; Self; Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. N. Soleymanlou: Employee; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Canada Ltd. J. Rosenstock: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Melior Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bukwang Pharm. Co., Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Oramed Pharmaceuticals, PegBio Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc. Other Relationship; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi. J.S. Skyler: Advisory Panel; Self; ADOCIA, Applied Therapeutics, Dance Biopharm Holdings Inc., Orgenesis Ltd., Tolerion, Inc., Viacyte, Inc. Board Member; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Moerae Matrix, Inc. Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Dalcor, Dialogics, Elcelyx Therapeutics, Inc., Esperion, GeNeuro Innovation, Ideal Life, Immunomolecular Therapeutics, Intrexon, Kamada, Nestlé, Sanofi, Valeritas, Inc., Zafgen, Inc. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Ideal Life, Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Intrexon, Moerae Matrix, Inc. L.M. Laffel: Advisory Panel; Self; Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk A/S, Roche Diabetes Care, Sanofi. Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Dexcom, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., UpToDate. K. Liesenfeld: Employee; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. D. Neubacher: Employee; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG. M. Riggs: Consultant; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. C.K. Johnston: Consultant; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. R.J. Eudy-Byrne: Consultant; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. Other Relationship; Spouse/Partner; Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care. A. Elmokadem: None. J. George: Employee; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. J. Marquard: Employee; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. V.C. Nock: Employee; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG.

Funding

Boehringer Ingelheim; Eli Lilly and Company