Trulicity Diabetes Treatment Reaches Pharmacies

Treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) just got a little easier.

Eli Lilly’s dulaglutide (Trulicity) is now available at US pharmacies as a single-dose pen, which allows T2DM patients to avoid mixing, measuring, or handling the needle. While it is not a substitute for insulin, the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) helps the body release its own insulin when patients eat to control blood sugar. Trulicity is offered in once-weekly 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg doses.

Laura Fernandez, MD, senior medical advisor at Lilly Diabetes, extolled the easy nature of administering the medicine.

“Some adults with type 2 diabetes find that diet, exercise, and oral medicines aren’t enough to meet their treatment goals,” Dr. Fernandez said in a press release. “Trulicity may be an option for them, as it has demonstrated proven glycemic control, only has to be taken once weekly, and comes in an easy-to-use pen.”

Patients should continue to use diet and exercise to improve glycemic control when using Trulicity, the company said. The drug has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis or severe gastrointestinal disease, and it is not indicated for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Some risks include thyroid c-cell tumors, such as medullary thyroid carcinoma.

With a savings card, commercially insured patients can purchase the drug for $25 for each prescription up to a maximum of 2 years.