DPP-4 inhibitors

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is the most prevalent disease, affecting majority of the world’s population. There are plenty of antidiabetics available in the market helping in achieving glycaemia control. The use of DPP-4 inhibitor is one the effective approach for treating the disease. Alogliptin is the latest analogue to the DPP-4 inhibitor class, approved in 2013. It is a highly selective, oral inhibitor of DPP-4 enzyme. Along with Alogliptin, FDA approved the fixed dose combinations of Alogliptin with Metformin and Pioglitazone, in the same year. Clinical data demonstrate that administering Alogliptin alone or in combination, leads to reduction in mean HbA1c and Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) level. Mean reduction of HbA1c is about 0.5% to 0.6% with Alogliptin alone and on combination with Metformin and Pioglitazone, the mean HbA1c reduce approximately by 0.6% and 1.8% respectively. The drug also reduces the Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) level by 10mg/dl to 20mg/dl and in combination with Metformin and Pioglitazone, the FPG level reduce by 20mg/dl and 50mg/dl respectively. Alogliptin is a drug with suitable tolerance and high safety profile. The drug shows no incidence of hypoglycemia and is weight neutral. Hence, Alogliptin benzoate is the preferred choice of the drug to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.