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Albiglutide (Tanzeum)

Clinical review pending

Albiglutide was a once-weekly GLP-1 injection for type 2 diabetes. An overview of how it works, its trial findings, market withdrawal and side effects.

What is albiglutide?

Albiglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist 1: a peptide that mimics the natural gut hormone GLP-1. It was made by joining two GLP-1 analogue chains to human albumin, the most abundant protein in the blood. This kept the medicine in the body long enough for once-weekly use. Source

GlaxoSmithKline manufactured it under the name Tanzeum. It was injected under the skin once a week.

How does albiglutide work?

Albiglutide lowers blood sugar by activating the GLP-1 receptor, mimicking a gut hormone the body releases after eating. Through this receptor, it has the following effects:

  • It promotes glucose-dependent insulin release 1. This keeps the risk of low blood sugar low when it is used on its own. Source
  • It reduces glucagon release.
  • It slows stomach emptying. This effect, and its effect on appetite, are somewhat weaker than those of some other GLP-1 medicines.

Binding it to albumin extended its half-life and made weekly use possible. In the HARMONY OUTCOMES trial 2, albiglutide reduced major cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease. Source

Is it FDA-approved?

Yes, but it is no longer sold. Tanzeum was approved for type 2 diabetes in 2014. Although the later HARMONY OUTCOMES trial found a cardiovascular benefit, GSK 3 withdrew Tanzeum from the market in 2018 because of low sales. It therefore remains FDA-approved but is unavailable. Source

What was albiglutide prescribed for?

While it was on the market, albiglutide was prescribed to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It was not intended for type 1 diabetes. It was not recommended for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma 3 or with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. Source

What side effects were reported?

The most common side effects were:

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Injection-site reactions
  • Upper respiratory tract infection

Less common but more serious risks included:

  • Thyroid C-cell tumors: the US prescribing information carried a prominent boxed warning 3 based on rodent studies. Whether these tumors also occur in humans is unknown. Source
  • Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas
  • Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
  • Low blood sugar, particularly when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea
  • Acute kidney injury, usually caused by dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea

Sources and supporting evidence

Sources: a published review of Tanzeum (albiglutide); the HARMONY OUTCOMES cardiovascular trial (Hernandez et al., The Lancet, 2018, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32261-X 2), indexed on PubMed; and drug references documenting its 2018 market withdrawal.