Albiglutide, an albumin-based fusion of glucagon-like peptide 1 for the potential treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Albiglutide, under development by GlaxoSmithKline plc for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is an albumin-fusion peptide. The compound is a mimetic of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), a hormone that decreases glucose levels, but has a short half-life because of degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4. Albiglutide has a longer half-life as a result of its fusion with albumin and its resistance to degradation by DPP-4, caused by an amino acid substitution (Ala to Glu) at the DPP-4-sensitive hydrolysis site. Data from phase II clinical trials in patients with T2DM revealed that albiglutide was well tolerated and that the drug significantly reduced HbA1c levels compared with placebo. At the time of publication, phase III trials assessing albiglutide alone and in combination with other antidiabetic drugs were recruiting patients with T2DM. Albiglutide represents a promising new drug for the treatment of patients with T2DM; the results of long-term trials are awaited with interest.