iGlarLixi : A titrateable fixed‐ratio combination of basal insulin + GLP‐1 receptor agonist—An effective type 2 diabetes treatment option in China

Five years ago, the overall prevalence of diabetes in China was reported to be as high as 10.6%, and it is especially concerning that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is developing in younger age groups. Glycaemic control rates (both HbA1c and post-prandial glucose control) are worryingly low among patients with T2DM in China, and 'clinical inertia' is a major challenge, in particular a reluctance among clinicians to initiate injectable therapy when oral antidiabetic therapies (OADs) are no longer achieving target levels of glucose control. Within the Chinese guidelines, clinicians now have the option to use a fixed-ratio combination of basal insulin (Glargine) and GLP-1 receptor agonist (lixisenatide), iGlarLixi, as a convenient, safe, and effective treatment for patients with T2DM. This review summarises the key clinical trials with iGlarLixi in Chinese and Asia-Pacific people, for example, the LixiLan-O-AP and LixiLan-L-CN trials, and highlights the advantages of this treatment for lowering HbA1c and post-prandial glucose. iGlarLixi is preferable to premixed insulin and can be combined with OADs among typical people with T2DM and poor glycaemic control. The safety, efficacy, and practical convenience of iGlarLixi are summarised in the Chinese healthcare context.