Pharmacotherapy of 'treatment resistant' type 2 diabetes

Phytochemical analysis and antihyperglycemic activity of Castilleja arvensis

Castilleja genus comprises approximately 211 species, some of them exhibiting potential in treating various diseases. Remarkably, despite its abundance, there is a significant lack of scientific studies that explore the chemical composition and/or therapeutic activity of this genus. In this work, the chemical composition of Castilleja arvensis was determined, and its antihyperglycemic activity was evaluated in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo. Hydroalcoholic extract of C. arvensis (HECa) was obtained from the maceration of aerial parts. HECa was fractionated by liquid-liquid extractions to obtain the CH2Cl2 fraction (DF), EtOAc fraction (EF), n-BuOH fraction (BF) and aqueous residue (AR). The antihyperglycemic activity was determined in vivo through oral glucose and sucrose tolerance tests in normoglycemic CD-1 mice. Ex vivo assays were performed to determine intestinal glucose absorption, muscular glucose uptake and hepatic glucose production. α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was evaluated in vitro. Phytochemical screening was carried out through conventional chromatography techniques. Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was performed by GC-MS and NMR experiments. HECa, its fractions and AR showed significant antihyperglycemic activity in vivo. According to the in vitro and ex vivo assays, this effect can be attributed to different mechanisms of action, including a delay in intestinal glucose absorption, an improvement in insulin sensitivity, and the regulation of hepatic glucose production. These effects may be due to different metabolites identified in fractions from the HECa, including genkwanin, acacetin, verbascoside and ipolamiide. Thus, current research shows that C. arvensis is an important source of bioactive compounds for the management of glycemia.

C-Reactive Protein Levels Correlate with Measures of Dysglycemia and Gut Microbiome Profiles

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a commonly used marker of low-grade inflammation as well as a marker of acute infection. CRP levels are elevated in those with diabetes and increased CRP concentrations are a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Gut microbiome effects on metabolism and immune responses can impact chronic inflammation, including affecting CRP levels, that in turn can lead to the development and maintenance of dysglycemia. Using a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) assay capable of detecting subtle changes in C-reactive protein, we show that higher hsCRP levels specifically correlate with worsening glycemia, reduced microbial richness and evenness, and with a reduction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio. These data demonstrate a pivotal role for CRP not only in the context of worsening glycemia and changes to the gut microbiota, but also highlight CRP as a potential target for mitigating type 2 diabetes progression or as a therapeutic target that could be manipulated through the microbiome. Understanding these processes will provide insights into the etiology of type 2 diabetes in addition to opening doors leading to possible novel diagnostic strategies and therapeutics.

Addressing the preventive and therapeutic perspective of berberine against diabetes

Diabetes has emerged as one the leading detrimental factors for human life expectancy worldwide. The disease is mainly considered as outcome of dysregulation in glucose metabolism, resulting in consistent high glucose concentration in blood. At initial stages, the diabetes particularly type 2 diabetes, is manageable by lifestyle interventions such as regular physical activity and diet with less carbohydrates. However, in advance stage, regular intake of external insulin dose and medicines like metformin are recommended. The long-term consumption of metformin is associated with several side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, lectic acidosis etc., In this scenario, several plant-based medicines have shown promising potential for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Berberine is the bioactive compound present in the different plant parts of berberis family. Biochemical studies have shown that berberine improve insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. Additionally, berberine induces glucose metabolism by activating AMPK signaling and inhibition of inflammation. A series of studies have demonstrated the antidiabetic potential of berberine at in vitro, pre-clinical and clinical trials. This review provides comprehensive details of preventive and therapeutic potential of berberine against diabetes.

Canagliflozin + metformin ER for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: the evidence to date

INTRODUCTION

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) usually show progressive deterioration in glycemic control and sequential additions of therapy are generally needed. Many new options for glucose lowering therapy have been introduced recently and it is becoming common practice to use fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of glucose lowering agents from different classes. This article reviews the FDC of canagliflozin with metformin extended release.

AREAS COVERED

A literature search was performed to identify publications describing the efficacy and safety of canagliflozin and metformin when used separately and in combinations.

EXPERT OPINION

Canagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor which has shown benefits in reducing progression of renal disease and heart failure in patients with T2D. There was an increased incidence of amputation with canagliflozin in one study, but canagliflozin results in weight loss and reduction of blood pressure which contribute to the overall benefit. Metformin has been the first line oral hypoglycemic agent for many years and is thought to have many advantages, but it should be avoided in patients with severely decreased renal function because of the risk of lactic acidosis. The combination in a single tablet given once daily should help to simplify therapy and improve medication adherence in T2D.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy With Transit Loop Bipartition and Transit Bipartition in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Obesity: A Retrospective Analysis

AIM

We aimed to compare 1-year postoperative results of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition (LSG-TB) and transit loop bipartition (LSG-TLB) and mini gastric bypass (MGB).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective comparison of 2 novel bariatric surgery techniques with MGB. Primary outcome measure of the study was a rate of T2DM remission. Secondary outcomes included excess body mass index (BMI) loss, improvement in hepatosteatosis, and duration of operation. Revision surgery needs were also assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, 32 patients underwent the LSG-TLB, 15 underwent LSG-TB, and 50 underwent MGB. Mean age and sex distribution were comparable for all groups. Presurgical BMI was similar in MGB and LSG + TB groups, whereas LSG + TLB group had significantly lower BMI values compared with the MGB group. In both groups, BMI values reduced significantly compared with respective baseline values. Excess BMI loss was significantly higher in patients who underwent LSG-TLB compared with patients treated with LSG-TB and MGB. Bariatric surgery procedures lasted shorter in LSG-TLB than in LSG-TB. However, the shortest of all was MGB. The remission of T2DM rates were 71% and 73.3% in LSG-TLB and LSG-TB groups, respectively ( P > 9.999). The rate of revision surgeries was comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, LSG-TLB took less time and provided significantly higher excess BMI loss compared with LSG-TB. T2DM remission and improvement rates were similar in both groups. LSG-TLB seemed like a promising bariatric surgery technique in patients with obesity and T2DM.

The role of Recent Pharmacotherapeutic Options on the Management of Treatment Resistant Type 2 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex progressive disease leading to chronic hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell failure. Intensification of treatment regimens is often necessary due to the overall decline in insulin secretion. Unfortunately, many patients are unable to achieve optimal glycemic control despite the standard of care and thus may be classified as 'treatment resistant'.

AREAS COVERED

Newer pharmacotherapeutic agents, either injectable or oral, such as Glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and Sodium-glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are, herein, described. These agents can be used as single agents or fixed combinations that reduce glycemia while lessening the risk for hypoglycemia and renal and cardiovascular diseases.

EXPERT OPINION

If individualized target HbA1c is not obtained despite diet, lifestyle, and metformin therapy, then additional oral and injectable therapies should be considered. This may include newer agents such as GLP-1RA and SGLT2 inhibitors alone or in combination that provide renal protection and reduce cardiovascular and hypoglycemic risks. These newer agents have substantial potential for lowering HbA1c through differing but complementary mechanisms. Use of new insulin analogs with GLP-1RA preparations either alone or in fixed-ratio combinations, such as glargine/lixisenatide and degludec/liraglutide, can also reduce the multiple drug adherence burden while improving glycemic control.

Anti-hyperglycemic contours of Madhugrit are robustly translated in the Caenorhabditis elegans model of lipid accumulation by regulating oxidative stress and inflammatory response

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of diabetes has considerably increased in recent years. In the long run, use of dual therapy of anti-diabetic agents becomes mandatory to attain euglycemia. Also, the incidences of diabetes-related co-morbidities have warranted the search for new therapeutic approaches for the management of the disease. Traditional herbo-mineral, anti-diabetic agents like Madhugrit are often prescribed to mitigate diabetes and related complications. The present study aimed to thoroughly characterize the pharmacological applications of Madhugrit.

METHODS

Phytometabolite characterization of Madhugrit was performed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. Evaluation of cell viability, α-amylase inhibition, glucose uptake, inflammation, and wound healing was performed by in vitro model systems using AR42J, L6, THP1, HaCaT cells, and reporter cell lines namely NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The formation of advanced glycation end products was determined by cell-free assay. In addition, the therapeutic potential of Madhugrit was also analyzed in the in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Parameters like brood size, % curling, glucose and triglyceride accumulation, lipid deposition, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation were determined under hyperglycemic conditions induced by the addition of supraphysiological glucose levels.

RESULTS

Madhugrit treatment significantly reduced the α-amylase release, enhanced glucose uptake, decreased AGEs formation, reduced differentiation of monocyte to macrophage, lowered the pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and enhanced wound healing in the in vitro hyperglycemic (glucose; 25 mM) conditions. In C. elegans stimulated with 100 mM glucose, Madhugrit (30 µg/ml) treatment normalized brood size, reduced curling behavior, decreased accumulation of glucose, triglycerides, and lowered oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Madhugrit showed multimodal approaches in combating hyperglycemia and related complications due to the presence of anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, wound healing, and lipid-lowering phytoconstituents in its arsenal. The study warrants the translational use of Madhugrit as an effective medicine for diabetes and associated co-morbidities.

The role of sulfonylureas in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasingly prevalent and associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and renal disease. After lifestyle modification, metformin is usually the first-line pharmacotherapy and sulfonylureas are traditionally added after metformin failure. However, with newer glucose lowering drugs that may have less risk of hypoglycemia or that may reduce cardiovascular and renal events, the position of sulfonylureas is being reevaluated.

AREAS COVERED

In this article, the authors review relevant publications related to the use of sulfonylureas.

EXPERT OPINION

Sulfonylureas are potent glucose lowering drugs. The risk of hypoglycemia varies with different drugs within the class and can be minimized by using the safer drugs, possibly in lower doses. Cardiovascular events do not appear to be increased with some of the newer generation drugs. The durability of glycemic control also appears comparable to other newer agents. Sulfonylureas are the preferred treatment for some types of monogenic diabetes and selection of T2D patients who may have greater benefit from sulfonylureas based on certain phenotypes and genotypes is likely to be refined further by precision medicine. Sulfonylureas are inexpensive and readily available everywhere and they are still the most frequently used second-line treatment for T2D in many parts of the world.

An overview of alogliptin + pioglitazone for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive condition, and sequential additions of therapy are usually required to maintain glycemic control. The options for glucose lowering therapies have increased considerably in recent years. Fixed-dose combinations such as alogliptin with pioglitazone provide a convenient choice which can improve medication adherence.

AREAS COVERED

The authors performed a literature search to identify publications describing the efficacy and safety of alogliptin and pioglitazone when used separately and in combinations.

EXPERT OPINION

Pioglitazone activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma which improves insulin sensitivity and helps to preserve β-cell function with a durable improvement in glycemic control. Pioglitazone can retard the progression of atherosclerosis and reduce cardiovascular events, but it is associated with adverse events including weight gain, fluid retention, and increased risk of fractures. Alogliptin improves glycemic control and appears neutral in terms of cardiovascular events. It does not appear to increase the adverse events associated with pioglitazone and use of the combination may permit the use of lower doses of pioglitazone with reduced adverse effects. There are no cardiovascular outcome studies with the combination but the cardiovascular benefits of pioglitazone and additional glucose lowering effects of alogliptin provide a useful combination with convenient once daily dosing.

The Effects of Berberis integerrima Fruit Extract on Glycemic Control Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background

Berberis integerrima Bunge fruits have been utilized in traditional medicine to control diabetes mellitus (DM). However, no clinical survey has been done in this regard. This study was conducted to clinically evaluate the effects of fruit extract of this plant in improving glycemic control indices in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM).

Methods

In a randomized controlled clinical trial, patients with T2DM who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups of drug (Berberis) and control to receive the extract solution 5 ml twice daily (equivalent to 1000 mg of dry extract) with standard treatment (metformin) or only standard treatment, respectively, for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum insulin, the homeostasis assessment model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body mass index (BMI), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were determined and compared between the two groups.

Results

During the study, 30 and 35 patients in the drug and control groups, respectively, completed the study. Although no significant changes occurred in any parameter within each group, postintervention FBS (117.5 [107–128.8] versus 134 [120–142], P = 0.001) and HbA1c (7 [6.4–7.7] versus 7.5 [6.8–7.9], P = 0.045) were significantly lower in the drug group than in the control one. In terms of other parameters, there were no significant differences between the groups.

Conclusion

Consumption of B. integerrima Bunge fruit extract at a dosage of 1000 mg daily decreases FBS and HbA1c but does not affect HOMA-IR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy Reveals the Effects of Hedysarum multijugum Maxim.-Radix Salviae Compound on Oxidative Capacity and Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in Rats with Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Objective

To explore the effects of the Hedysarum multijugum Maxim.-Radix Salviae compound (Huangqi-Danshen Compound (HDC)) on oxidative capacity and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy by a network pharmacology-based strategy.

Methods

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)@Taiwan, TCM Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), TCM Integrated Database (TCMID), and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technology were used to obtain and screen HDC's active components, and the PharmMapper database was used to predict HDC human target protein targets. The DCM genes were collected from the GeneCards and OMIM databases, and the network was constructed and analyzed by Cytoscape 3.7.1 and the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Finally, HDC was used to intervene in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) model rats, and important biological processes and signaling pathways were verified using techniques such as immunohistochemistry.

Results

A total of 176 of HDC's active components and 442 potential targets were obtained. The results of network analysis show that HDC can regulate DCM-related biological processes (such as negative regulation of the apoptotic process, response to hypoxia, the steroid hormone-mediated signaling pathway, cellular iron ion homeostasis, and positive regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling) and signaling pathways (such as the HIF-1 signaling pathway, the estrogen signaling pathway, insulin resistance, the PPAR signaling pathway, the VEGF signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway). Animal experiments show that HDC can reduce fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (P < 0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry showed that HDC can regulate the protein expression of apoptosis-related signaling pathways in DCM rats (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

It was initially revealed that HDC improves DCM through its antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects. HDC may play a therapeutic role by improving cardiomyocyte apoptosis in DCM rats.

DPP4i, thiazolidinediones, or insulin and risks of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on metformin-sulfonylurea dual therapy with inadequate control

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to compare the risks of cancer among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on metformin-sulfonylurea dual therapy intensified with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i), thiazolidinediones, or insulin.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We assembled a retrospective cohort data of 20 577 patients who were free of cancer and on metformin-sulfonylurea dual therapy, and whose drug treatments were intensified with DPP4i (n=9957), insulin (n=7760), or thiazolidinediones (n=2860) from January 2006 to December 2017. Propensity-score weighting was used to balance out baseline covariates across the three groups. HRs for any types of cancer, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality were assessed using Cox proportional-hazards models.

RESULTS

Over a mean follow-up period of 34 months with 58 539 person-years, cumulative incidences of cancer, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality were 0.028, 0.009, and 0.072, respectively. Patients intensified with insulin had the highest incidence of all-cause mortality (incidence rate=3.22/100 person-years) and the insulin itself posed the greatest risk (HR 2.46, 95% CI 2.25 to 2.70, p<0.001; 2.44, 95% CI 2.23 to 2.67) compared with thiazolidinediones and DPP4i, respectively. Comparing between thiazolidinediones and DPP4i, thiazolidinediones was associated with higher risk of cancer (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.63) but not cancer mortality (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.58) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.11). Insulin was associated with the greatest risk of cancer mortality (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.71; 1.65, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.07) compared with thiazolidinediones and DPP4i, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with T2DM on metformin-sulfonylurea dual therapy, the addition of DPP4i was the third-line medication least likely to be associated with cancer mortality and cancer effect among three options, and posed no increased risk for all-cause mortality when compared with thiazolidinediones.

The art of suicidal molecular seduction for targeting drug resistance

The development of drug resistance is one of the most significant challenges of the current century in the pharmaceutical industry. Superinfections, cancer chemoresistance, and resistance observed in many non-infectious diseases are nullifying the efforts and monetary supplies, put in the advent of new drug molecules. Millions of people die because of this drug resistance developed gradually through extensive use of the drugs. Inherently, some drugs are less prone to become ineffective by drug resistance than others. Covalent inhibitors bind to their targets via a biologically permanent bound with their cognate receptor and therefore display more potent inhibiting characteristics. Suicide inhibitors or mechanism-based inhibitors are one of the covalent inhibitors, which require a pre-activation step by their targeting enzyme. This step accrues their selectivity and specificity with respect to other covalent inhibitors. After that pre-activation step, they produce an analogue of the transition state of the catalytic enzyme, which is practically incapable of dissociating from the enzyme. Suicide inhibitors, due to their high intrinsic affinity toward the related enzyme, are resistant to many mechanisms involved in the development of drug resistance and can be regarded as one of the enemies of this scientific hurdle. These inhibitors compete even with monoclonal antibodies in terms of their cost-effectiveness and efficacy.

Intensification with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, insulin, or thiazolidinediones and risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases, and severe hypoglycemia in patients on metformin-sulfonylurea dual therapy: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Although patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may fail to achieve adequate hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) control despite metformin-sulfonylurea (Met-SU) dual therapy, a third-line glucose-lowering medication-including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i), insulin, or thiazolidinedione (TZD)-can be added to achieve this. However, treatment effects of intensification with the medications on the risk of severe hypoglycemia (SH), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality are uncertain. Study aim was to compare the risks of all-cause mortality, CVD, and SH among patients with T2DM on Met-SU dual therapy intensified with DPP4i, insulin, or TZD.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We analyzed a retrospective cohort data of 17,293 patients with T2DM who were free from CVD and on Met-SU dual therapy and who were intensified with DPP4i (n = 8,248), insulin (n = 6,395), or TZD (n = 2,650) from 2006 to 2017. Propensity-score weighting was used to balance out baseline covariates across groups. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality, CVD, and SH were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. Mean age of all patients was 58.56 ± 11.41 years. All baseline covariates achieved a balance across the 3 groups. Over a mean follow-up period of 34 months with 49,299 person-years, cumulative incidences of all-cause mortality, SH, and CVD were 0.061, 0.119, and 0.074, respectively. Patients intensified with insulin had higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.648, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.367-2.963, p < 0.001; 2.352, 95% CI 2.123-2.605, p < 0.001) than those intensified with TZD and DPP4i, respectively. Insulin users had the greatest risk of SH (HR = 1.198, 95% CI 1.071-1.340, p = 0.002; 1.496, 95% CI 1.342-1.668, p < 0.001) compared with TZD and DPP4i users, respectively. Comparing between TZDs and DPP4i, TZDs were associated with a higher risk of SH (HR = 1.249, 95% CI 1.099-1.419, p < 0.001) but not all-cause mortality (HR = 0.888, 95% CI 0.776-1.016, p = 0.084) or CVD (HR = 1.005, 95% CI 0.915-1.104, p = 0.925). Limitations of this study included the lack of data regarding lifestyle, drug adherence, time-varying factors, patients' motivation, and cost considerations. A limited duration of patients intensifying with TZD might also weaken the strength of study results.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that, for patients with T2DM who are on Met-SU dual therapy, the addition of DPP4i was a preferred third-line medication among 3 options, with the lowest risks of mortality and SH and posing no increased risk for CVD events when compared to insulin and TZD. Intensification with insulin had the greatest risk of mortality and SH events.

Impact of a Community Pharmacist-Delivered Information Program on the Follow-up of Type-2 Diabetic Patients: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Study

Introduction

Low-quality communication between patients and care providers and limited patient knowledge of the disease and the therapy are important factors associated with poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. We conducted a multicenter study to determine whether structured and tailored information delivered by pharmacists to type 2 diabetic patients could improve patient treatment adherence, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and knowledge about diabetes.

Methods

One hundred seventy-four pharmacies were randomized to deliver an educational program on diet, drug treatment, disease and complications during three 30-min interviews over a 6-month period, or to provide no intervention, to type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral antidiabetic agents. Medication adherence was assessed by measuring the medication possession ratio and diabetes control by collecting HbA1c values. Levels of patient treatment self-management and disease knowledge were assessed using self-questionnaires.

Results

Three hundred seventy-seven patients were analyzed. The medication possession ratio, already very high at baseline in the intervention (94.8%) and control (92.3%) groups, did not vary significantly after 6 months with no difference between the two groups. Significant decreases in HbA1c were observed in both groups at 6 months (p < 0.001) and 12 months (p < 0.01), with significantly greater changes from baseline in the intervention group than in the control group at 6 months (− 0.5% vs. − 0.2%, p = 0.0047) and 12 months (− 0.6% vs. − 0.2%, p = 0.0057). Patients in the intervention group showed greater improvement in their ability to self-manage treatment (+ 4.86 vs. + 1.58, p = 0.0014) and in the extent of their knowledge about diabetes (+ 0.6 vs. + 0.2, p < 0.01) at 6 months versus baseline compared with the control group.

Conclusion

Tailored information provided by the pharmacist to patients with type 2 diabetes did not significantly improve the already high adherence rates, but was associated with a significant decrease in HbA1c and an improvement of patient knowledge about diabetes.

Trial Registration

ISRCTN33776525.

Funding

MSD France.

Electronic Supplementary Material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-019-00957-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The safety of empagliflozin plus metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Metformin is the first-line glucose-lowering medication in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but it generally requires soon or later the addition of a second-line therapy, among which a sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, to reach and maintain adequate glucose control. Areas covered: This narrative review provides an analysis of both efficacy and safety of a dual therapy combining metformin and empagliflozin, a SGLT-2 inhibitor that has proven its' potential to reduce major cardiovascular (CV) events, mortality, and renal outcomes in patients with T2DM and established CV disease. Pharmacokinetic studies showed the absence of drug-drug interactions and demonstrate bioequivalence between fixed-dose combination (FDC) and individual tablets of empagliflozin and metformin. Focus will be put on the use of this dual therapy in special populations. Expert opinion: The addition of empagliflozin to metformin therapy improves glucose control, with a minimal risk of hypoglycemia, while reducing body weight and arterial blood pressure. EMPA-REG OUTCOME showed that this combined therapy may be used in patients with established CV disease or heart failure. However, caution may be required in fragile elderly patients and in patients with severe impaired renal function. Further post-marketing surveillance is recommended to demonstrate long-term safety. FDC may improve adherence.

Cardiovascular Effects of New Oral Glucose-Lowering Agents: DPP-4 and SGLT-2 Inhibitors

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major challenge in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glucose-lowering agents that reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events would be considered a major advance, as recently reported with liraglutide and semaglutide, 2 glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and with empagliflozin and canagliflozin, 2 SGLT-2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2) inhibitors, but not with DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) inhibitors. The present review is devoted to CV effects of new oral glucose-lowering agents. DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) showed some positive cardiac and vascular effects in preliminary studies, and initial data from phase 2 to 3 clinical trials suggested a reduction in major cardiovascular events. However, subsequent CV outcome trials with alogliptin, saxagliptin, and sitagliptin showed noninferiority but failed to demonstrate any superiority compared with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and high CV risk. An unexpected higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure was reported with saxagliptin. SGLT-2 inhibitors (gliflozins) promote glucosuria, thus reducing glucose toxicity and body weight, and enhance natriuresis, thus lowering blood pressure. Two CV outcome trials in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients mainly in secondary prevention showed remarkable positive results. Empagliflozin in EMPA-REG-OUTCOME (EMPAgliflozin Cardiovascular OUTCOME Events in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients) reduced major cardiovascular events, CV mortality, all-cause mortality, and hospitalization for heart failure. In CANVAS (Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study), the reduction in CV mortality with canagliflozin failed to reach statistical significance despite a similar reduction in major cardiovascular events. The underlying protective mechanisms of SGLT-2 inhibitors remain unknown and both hemodynamic and metabolic explanations have been proposed. CVD-REAL studies (Comparative Effectiveness of Cardiovascular Outcomes in New Users of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors; with the limitation of an observational approach) suggested that these favorable results may be considered as a class effect shared by all SGLT-2 inhibitors (including dapagliflozin) and be extrapolated to a larger population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary prevention. Ongoing CV outcome trials with other DPP-4 (linagliptin) and SGLT-2 (dapagliflozin, ertugliflozin) inhibitors should provide additional information about CV effects of both pharmacological classes.

The safety of gliptins : updated data in 2018

INTRODUCTION

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) are generally considered as glucose-lowering agents with a safe profile in type 2 diabetes.

AREAS COVERED

An updated review of recent safety data from randomised controlled trials, observational studies, meta-analyses, pharmacovigilance reports regarding alogliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin, sitagliptin, and vildagliptin, with a special focus on risks of hypoglycemia, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, major cardiovascular events, hospitalisation for heart failure and other new safety issues, such as bone fractures and arthralgia. The safety of DPP-4i use in special populations, elderly patients, patients with renal impairment, liver disease or heart failure, will also be discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

The good tolerance/safety profile of DPP-4is has been largely confirmed, including in more fragile populations, with no gastrointestinal adverse effects and a minimal risk of hypoglycemia. DPP-4is appear to be associated with a small increased incidence of acute pancreatitis in placebo-controlled trials, although most observational studies are reassuring. Most recent studies with DPP-4is do not confirm the increased risk of hospitalisation for heart failure reported with saxagliptin in SAVOR-TIMI 53, but further post-marketing surveillance is still recommended. New adverse events have been reported such as arthralgia, yet a causal relationship remains unclear.

Pharmacological management of type 2 diabetes: what's new in 2017?

INTRODUCTION

Novelties in the management of type 2 diabetes are dominated by the commercialisation of new glucose-lowering agents, which offer alternatives to older antidiabetic medications, and by the publication of several prospective placebo-controlled outcome trials, which demonstrated not only cardiovascular safety but also cardiovascular and renal protection with some new medications. Areas covered: Updates regarding the use of glucose-lowering agents are discussed from a clinical point of view. Some new viewpoints concern older antidiabetic agents such as metformin, sulfonylureas and glitazones whose benefit-risk balance has been revisited, especially in high risk patients. The recent data regarding DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) focused on the safety profile of this pharmacological class, including in patients with impaired renal function. The highlight concerns the cardiovascular (and renal) protection by some GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide, semaglutide) and SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, canagliflozin) in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Finally, efficacy and safety of new combinations and advances in insulin therapy will be briefly discussed. Expert commentary: The recent data from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses and observational real-life studies should trigger a revision of the algorithm for the treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes, especially in patients with high cardiovascular and/or renal risk.

Autophagy and its link to type II diabetes mellitus

Autophagy, a double-edged sword for cell survival, is the research object on 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Autophagy is a molecular mechanism for maintaining cellular physiology and promoting survival. Defects in autophagy lead to the etiology of many diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer, neurodegeneration, infection disease and aging. DM is a metabolic and chronic disorder and has a higher prevalence in the world as well as in Taiwan. The character of diabetes mellitus is hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and failure of producing insulin on pancreatic beta cells. In T2DM, autophagy is not only providing nutrients to maintain cellular energy during fasting, but also removes damaged organelles, lipids and miss-folded proteins. In addition, autophagy plays an important role in pancreatic beta cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize the roles of autophagy in T2DM.