In a meta-analysis designed to compare the efficacy and safety of once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for treating type 2 diabetes, no clear winner emerged.

According to a team of British researchers, Exenatide (Bydureon) and dulaglutide (Trulicity) performed better as compared to others in controlling glucose and reducing body weight.

The only difference between the two drugs was very small and in many cases the difference was legible, said researchers.

Lead investigator Francesco Zaccardi, MD, of the University of Leicester and colleagues said in a joint statement that several studies conducted in past have compared once-weekly and daily GLP-1RAz, but so far they have found no direct comparisons between once-weekly GLP-1RAs.

Zaccardi and his colleagues analyzed data from recent randomized controlled trials and compared the once-weekly GLP-1RAs with a wide range of clinically relevant outcomes.

“Our study’s aim is to assist decision makers in providing patient-centered care by balancing the potential risks and benefits of individual drugs within the class of once-weekly GLP-1RAs”, said Zaccardi and colleagues.

The network meta-analysis included 34 clinical trials involving over 20,000 patients. The investigators found no major difference among the drugs for hypoglycemia risk or effect on blood pressure, lipid levels, and C-reactive protein levels.

Zaccardi and colleagues said their study is the first one to attempt to summarize available data on once-weekly GLP-1RAs for a wide range of outcomes.

The data suggests differences in cardiometabolic outcomes and safety among once-weekly GLP-1RAs, said investigators.