Every-2-Week Diabetes Pill Outperforms Daily Pills in Trial

What Was This Study About?

Researchers tested a new diabetes medication called cofrogliptin, which only needs to be taken once every two weeks. They compared it to the standard daily DPP-4 inhibitor pills (like sitagliptin or alogliptin) that many type 2 diabetes patients already take.

Who Was Involved?

64 Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes took part in this study. Half switched to cofrogliptin taken every 2 weeks, while the other half continued their usual daily diabetes pill. The study ran for 24 weeks across multiple hospitals.

How Was Blood Sugar Measured?

Participants wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) — a small sensor on the skin — for 14 days at two points during the study. Researchers measured "Time in Range" (TIR), which is the percentage of the day your blood sugar stays within a healthy target zone (70–180 mg/dL).

What Did the Results Show?

After 24 weeks:

• The cofrogliptin group maintained their Time in Range, with virtually no change from the start.
• The daily pill group actually saw their Time in Range drop by nearly 10% — meaning more time with out-of-range blood sugar.
• This nearly 10% difference between groups was statistically significant, meaning it was a real and meaningful finding.

Was It Safe?

Yes. Side effects were similar between both groups in terms of how often they occurred and how serious they were. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) events were also comparable between groups.

Why Does This Matter for Patients?

Taking a pill just once every two weeks instead of every day could make it much easier for patients to stick to their treatment. Fewer doses means fewer chances to forget a pill — and this study suggests it may actually work better than the daily alternative.

Note: This was a Phase 2 trial, meaning larger studies are still needed before cofrogliptin becomes widely available.