Evaluation of Ertugliflozin Efficacy and Safety Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial - VERTIS CV

Nov 13, 2020
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Author/Summarized by Author:
Dharam J. Kumbhani, MD, SM, FACC
Summary Reviewer:
Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, FACC
Trial Sponsor:
Merck & Co., Inc., in collaboration with Pfizer Inc.
Date Presented:
11/13/2020
Date Published:
11/13/2020
Date Updated:
11/13/2020
Original Posted Date:
06/16/2020
References

Contribution To Literature:

The VERTIS CV trial showed that ertugliflozin is noninferior for reducing CV events in patients with T2DM and established CVD. The effects, especially on HF, were consistent with the benefits seen in the SGLT2 inhibitor class.

Description:

The goal of the trial was to assess the cardiovascular (CV) safety of ertugliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Study Design

Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 fashion to either ertugliflozin 5 mg (n = 2,752), 15 mg (n = 2,747), or matching placebo (n = 2,747).

  • Total number of enrollees: 8,246
  • Duration of follow-up: 3.5 years
  • Mean patient age: 64.4 years
  • Percentage female: 30%

Inclusion criteria:

  • Age ≥40 years
  • T2DM diagnosis according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines: glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.0-10.5% (53-91 mmol/mol)
  • Established ASCVD involving the coronary, cerebrovascular, and/or peripheral artery systems
  • Stable on allowable antihyperglycemic agents (AHAs) or on no background AHA for ≥8 weeks prior to study participation

Exclusion criteria:

  • History of type 1 DM or ketoacidosis
  • Experiencing a CV event (e.g., myocardial infarction [MI] or stroke) or undergoing coronary or peripheral intervention procedure between the screening visit and randomization
  • Undergoing any CV surgery (e.g., valvular surgery) within 3 months of the screening visit
  • Planned revascularization or peripheral intervention procedure or other CV surgery
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 at the screening visit
  • New York Heart Association class IV heart failure (HF) at screening visit (class III-IV prior to protocol amendment)

Other salient features/characteristics:

  • White 88%; Europe: 56%
  • Diagnosis of T2DM: 13 years
  • Baseline low-density lipoprotein: 89 mg/dl
  • Known coronary artery disease: 76%, prior MI: 48%, known CVD: 23%
  • Metformin: 76%; insulin: 48%; glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1): 3.5%
  • Statin: 82%, antiplatelet: 85%

Principal Findings:

The primary outcome, CV death, nonfatal MI, or stroke for ertugliflozin vs. placebo: 11.9% vs. 11.9% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85-1.11, p < 0.001 for noninferiority)

  • CV death: 1.8% vs. 1.9% (p = 0.39)
  • MI: 1.7% vs. 1.6% (p = 0.66)
  • Stroke: 0.8% vs. 0.8% (p = 0.99)

Secondary outcomes:

  • HF hospitalization: 2.5% vs. 3.6% (p = 0.006)
  • HbA1c at 18 weeks for 5 mg ertugliflozin vs. placebo: -0.5% (p < 0.0001)
  • HbA1c at 18 weeks for 15 mg ertugliflozin vs. placebo: -0.5% (p < 0.0001)
  • Mean decrease in body weight for ertugliflozin 5 mg vs. placebo: 2.4 kg; for ertugliflozin 15 mg vs. placebo: 2.8 kg
  • Symptomatic hypoglycemic event: 27.2% vs. 28.8%
  • Urinary tract infection: 12.1% vs. 10.2% (p < 0.05)
  • Amputation: 2.0% vs. 1.6% (p > 0.05)

Renal outcomes:

  • Renal composite (renal death, dialysis/transplant, doubling of serum creatinine): 3.2% vs. 3.9% (p = 0.08)
  • Doubling of serum creatinine: 3.1% vs. 3.8%

HF outcomes: Time to first HF hospitalization for ertugliflozin vs. placebo, was 0.73 vs. 1.05 events/100 person-years (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.54-0.90, p = 0.006). The benefit was consistent across ertugliflozin dose. History of HF and EF ≤45%/>45%. Total and recurrent HF events were also reduced in the ertugliflozin arm. On subgroup analysis, effects were more pronounced among patients with eGFR <60 (p = 0.04), presence of macro- or microalbuminuria (p = 0.04), and patients already on diuretic (p = 0.02).

Effect of baseline renal function: The proportion of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1, 2, and 3 at baseline was 25%, 53%, and 22%, respectively; 60% and 40% of patients had normal and elevated albuminuria, respectively, while 49%, 32%, and 19% were classified into the KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) CKD low-, moderate-, and high-/very high-risk categories.

Event rates were higher for all reported CV outcomes with more advanced kidney disease. For the endpoint of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF)/CV death, a greater benefit was observed among patients with albuminuria with ertugliflozin vs. placebo (33.5% vs. 45.8%, p for interaction = 0.01), and for KDIGO moderate (23.1% vs. 30.3%) and high/very high risk (47.0% vs. 61.1%) for ertugliflozin vs. placebo, respectively (p for interaction = 0.03). A similar finding was noted for the endpoint of HHF.

Interpretation:

The results of this trial indicate that ertugliflozin is noninferior to placebo for reducing CV events in patients with T2DM and established CVD. Trends were noted for beneficial effect on renal outcomes, although this was not statistically significant. Subgroup analysis suggested a benefit for HHF and HHF/CV death with ertugliflozin vs. placebo among patients with higher risk (presence of albuminuria, higher KDIGO class).

This is the fourth sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) drug to report on CV outcomes (after empagliflozin, canagliflozin, and dapagliflozin). There appeared to be a consistent class effect with respect to reductions in HF hospitalizations, but major adverse cardiac event reductions were statistically significant only for canagliflozin and empagliflozin. Unlike canagliflozin, no safety signals with respect to amputations were noted. The salutary effects of ertugliflozin appear to be somewhat diminished compared with canagliflozin and empagliflozin; it is unclear if this represents a difference in patient populations between the trials, or a true biological difference in drug efficacy (or other issues). Overall, these are important findings, even as SGLT2 inhibitors are becoming first-line agents for patients with T2DM, and also for patients with HF, with or without DM. These results add to the body of evidence supporting the use of this class in the guidelines.

References:

Cherney DZ, McGuire DK, Charbonnel B, et al., on behalf of the VERTIS CV Investigators. Gradient of Risk and Associations With Cardiovascular Efficacy of Ertugliflozin by Measures of Kidney Function: Observations From VERTIS CV. Circulation 2020;Nov 13:[Epub ahead of print].

Presented by Dr. David Cherney at the American Heart Association Virtual Scientific Sessions, November 13, 2020.

Cosentino F, Cannon CP, Cherney DZ, et al. Efficacy of Ertugliflozin on Heart Failure-Related Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Results of the VERTIS CV Trial. Circulation 2020;Oct 7:[Epub ahead of print].

Cannon CP, Pratley R, Dagogo-Jack S, et al., for the VERTIS CV Investigators. Cardiovascular Outcomes With Ertugliflozin in Type 2 Diabetes. N Engl J Med 2020;383:1425-35.

Presented by Dr. Francesco Cosentino at the European Society of Cardiology Virtual Congress, August 31, 2020.

Presented by Dr. Christopher P. Cannon at the American Diabetes Association Virtual Scientific Sessions, June 16, 2020.

Clinical Topics: Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease, Dyslipidemia, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Prevention, Lipid Metabolism, Acute Heart Failure

Keywords: AHA20, AHA Annual Scientific Sessions, Amputation, Atherosclerosis, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Heart Failure, Hemoglobins, Hypoglycemia, Metabolic Syndrome, Myocardial Infarction, Primary Prevention, Renal Insufficiency, Renal Dialysis, Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2, Stroke, Vascular Diseases, ESC Congress, ESC20


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