Lindus Health say governments and innovators should 'step up their game' when it comes to diabetes treatments

It has found through its research that new analysis of official records from the National Institute of Health (NIH) revealed that just 365,000 people took part in a clinical trial for type 2 diabetes in 2021.

This is despite the fact that 37.3 million people, or more than 1 in 10 of the US population, are living with the condition - and the company says the clinical trials are ‘out of step’ with the scale of the challenge.

In 2021, the number of cancer trial participants was around 34% the number of those affected by the disease in the US and the equivalent of around 7% of people in the US with Alzheimer’s were part of a trial in the same year.  

By taking part in a clinical trial, people affected by conditions like diabetes can access innovative new treatments and drugs and help bring the medicines to market much faster, benefiting millions of others.

The new findings were uncovered by Lindus Health, a clinical trials start-up, who analysed the official clinical trial records across multiple diseases and found that diabetes was clearly being under-represented - with the equivalent of fewer than 1% of people affected by the disease being involved in a trial.

The company says that despite the number of people affected by diabetes, the condition is frequently overlooked in clinical trials. Treatment for diabetes with semaglutide has been successful and there is a growing market for effective treatments, which the company says, makes it even more surprising.

In 2021, participants in clinical trials for cancer represented the equivalent of around 34% of the number of those living with the disease. Likewise, the equivalent of around 7% of people in the US with Alzheimer’s Disease were part of a trial for the condition in the same year. 

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the UK and Lindus say the total estimated cost of those who have been diagnosed is $327 billion. The company says clinical trials are fundamental for finding new treatments and care for those with chronic illnesses and that without the right support, those with diabetes are at risk of serious health complications.

Without the right support, those with diabetes are at risk of serious health complications. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US, with the total estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes in the US standing at $327 billion.

Lindus Health is delivering clinical trials for type 2 diabetes treatments three times faster than the industry standard - helping to bring them to patients more quickly. 

One such study is a digital type 2 diabetes remission trial with the Habitual Remission Programme weight loss scheme, which aims to discover if the total diet replacement plan is more likely to cause the reversal of type 2 diabetes compared to standard NHS care. 

Conducted entirely remotely, the trial enables participants to input their data, including measurements and blood samples, from the convenience of their homes - helping to improve patient experiences and lead to better quality data. 

Lindus Health also previously delivered two pre-diabetes trials - one with digital therapeutics company dnaNudge and a second with gut-focused health-tech start-up, Myota. 

The first trial investigated the effectiveness of a DNA-based diet on reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in people who have pre-diabetes, whilst the second looked to support an EFSA health claim for Myota’s fibre product. 

Michael Young, co-founder at Lindus Health said: “Complications from diabetes can be fatal - and the number of people living with the disease is staggering. It is more important than ever that governments and innovators step up their game in bringing new, life-changing treatments to patients with this condition. 

“As the only industry provider with a fully integrated clinical trial system underpinning all our clinical operations, we’re able to deliver faster, more reliable clinical trials. We’re proud to partner with pioneering companies looking to bring new treatments for people affected by diabetes to market.”