Potential Antitumor Activity of 2-O-α-d-Glucopyranosyl-6-O-(2-Pentylheptanoyl)-l-Ascorbic Acid

Intravenous administration of high-dose ascorbic acid (AA) has been reported as a treatment for cancer patients. However, cancer patients with renal failure cannot receive this therapy because high-dose AA infusion can have side effects. To solve this problem, we evaluated the antitumor activity of a lipophilic stable AA derivative, 2-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-6-O-(2-pentylheptanoyl)-l-ascorbic acid (6-bOcta-AA-2G). Intravenous administration of 6-bOcta-AA-2G suppressed tumor growth in colon-26 tumor-bearing mice more strongly than did AA, even at 1/10 of the molar amount of AA. Experiments on the biodistribution and clearance of 6-bOcta-AA-2G and its metabolites in tumor-bearing mice showed that 6-bOcta-AA-2G was hydrolyzed to 6-O-(2-propylpentanoyl)-l-ascorbic acid (6-bOcta-AA) slowly to yield AA, and the results suggested that this characteristic metabolic pattern is responsible for making the antitumor activity of 6-bOcta-AA-2G stronger than that of AA and that the active form of 6-bOcta-AA-2G showing antitumor activity is 6-bOcta-AA. In in vitro experiments, the oxidized form of 6-bOcta-AA as well as 6-bOcta-AA showed significant cytotoxicity, while the oxidized forms of ascorbic acid showed no cytotoxicity at all, suggesting that the antitumor activity mechanism of 6-bOcta-AA-2G is different from that of AA and that the antitumor activity is due to the reduced and oxidized form of 6-bOcta-AA. The findings suggest that 6-bOcta-AA-2G is a potent candidate as an alternative drug to intravenous high-dose AA.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibition improves incretin sensitivity of pancreatic β-cells in people with type 2 diabetes

AIM

To test the hypothesis that dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, improves β-cell responses to incretin hormones (or β-cell incretin sensitivity) by alleviating glucose toxicity in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A total of 19 people with T2DM underwent a 3-hour hyperglycaemic clamp study with incretin infusion before and after 8-week treatment with dapagliflozin added to the background treatment. In addition, 10 people with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) underwent a single hyperglycaemic clamp study. The hyperglycaemic clamp was targeted at 15.5 mmol/L for 3 hours, with synthetic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) infusion over a 60- to 180-minute and a 120- to 180-minute period, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared with baseline, the C-peptide response to GLP-1 (incremental area under the curve [iAUC] of C-peptide_{60-120 minutes} ) significantly increased (83.6 ± 42.1 to 106.6 ± 45.7 nmol/L × min; P = .011), and the C-peptide response to GIP/GLP-1 (iAUC of C-peptide_{120-180 minutes} ) tended to increase after dapagliflozin treatment (82.5 ± 58.4 to 101.9 ± 50.3 nmol/L × min; P = .087), whereas both the insulin responses to GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 increased significantly. First-phase C-peptide response, which reflects β-cell function, significantly increased after dapagliflozin treatment; however, all these improved values in the participants with T2DM were far lower than those in the participants with NGT. In addition, the improvement in insulin responses to hyperglycaemia was correlated with the improvement in insulin responses to incretin infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin improved β-cell responses to incretin hormones as well as glucose during the hyperglycaemic clamp in patients with inadequately controlled T2DM.

Cost-utility of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk

AIMS

In the Empagliflozin, Cardiovascular Outcomes, and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes (EMPA-REG) trial, empagliflozin reduced cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients at high cardiovascular risk. We sought to estimate the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin versus standard treatment for the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with T2D.

METHODS

A Markov model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin (versus standard treatment) for the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with T2D using a 3-month cycle length and a lifetime horizon. Data sources included the EMPA-REG randomized clinical trial and other published epidemiological studies. Outcomes included treatment costs (in 2016 US$), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) was performed to test the robustness of conclusions.

RESULTS

Empagliflozin use resulted in higher total lifetime treatment costs ($371,450 versus $272,966) but yielded greater QALYs (10.712 vs. 9.419) compared to standard treatment. This corresponded to an ICER of $76,167 per QALY gained. PSA suggested empagliflozin would be cost-effective in 96% of 10,000 iterations assuming a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY gained.

CONCLUSION

Empagliflozin may be cost-effective compared to standard treatment in T2D patients at high cardiovascular risk.

Effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on serum uric acid level: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The aim of this study was to describe the effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on serum uric acid (SUA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trials of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with T2DM up to May 20, 2017. A total of 62 studies, comprising 34 941 patients, were included. Any of the SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, tofogliflozin, luseogliflozin or ipragliflozin) significantly decreased SUA levels compared with control (total weighted mean difference [WMD] -37.73 μmol/L, 95% CI [-40.51, -34.95]). Treatment with empagliflozin resulted in a superior reduction in SUA (WMD -45.83 μmol/L, 95% CI [-53.03, -38.63]). The effect persisted during long-term treatment. Dapagliflozin decreased SUA in a dose-dependent manner (from 5 to 50 mg, P = .014). In subgroup analyses, greater reductions could be observed during the course of early diabetes and the SUA-lowering effect was abolished in patients with chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m² ). The effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on SUA reduction suggests that this class of drugs might be beneficial for diabetic patients with hyperuricaemia.

Dapagliflozin is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in people with type 2 diabetes (CVD-REAL Nordic) when compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor therapy: A multinational observational study

AIMS

To compare the sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor dapagliflozin with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors with regard to risk associations with major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE; non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke or cardiovascular mortality), hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), atrial fibrillation and severe hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a real-world setting.

METHODS

All patients with T2D prescribed glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) during 2012 to 2015 were identified in nationwide registries in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Patients were divided into two groups: new users of dapagliflozin and new users of DPP-4 inhibitors, matched 1:3 by propensity score, calculated by patient characteristics, comorbidities and drug treatment. Cox survival models were used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) per country separately, and a weighted average was calculated.

RESULTS

After matching, a total of 40 908 patients with T2D were identified as new users of dapagliflozin (n = 10 227) or a DPP-4 inhibitor (n = 30 681). The groups were well balanced at baseline; their mean age was 61 years and 23% had CV disease. The mean follow-up time was 0.95 years, with a total of 38 760 patient-years. Dapagliflozin was associated with a lower risk of MACE, HHF and all-cause mortality compared with DPP-4 inhibitors: HRs 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.94), 0.62 (95% CI 0.50-0.77), and 0.59 (95% CI 0.49-0.72), respectively. Numerically lower, but non-significant HRs were observed for myocardial infarction (0.91 [95% CI 0.72-1.16]), stroke (0.79 [95% CI 0.61-1.03]) and CV mortality (0.76 [95% CI 0.53-1.08]) Neutral associations with atrial fibrillation and severe hypoglycaemia were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin was associated with lower risks of CV events and all-cause mortality compared with DPP-4 inhibitors in a real-world clinical setting and a broad T2D population.

Cardioprotection of dapagliflozin and vildagliptin in rats with cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2-i) effects on cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury are unclear. Unlike SGLT2-i, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4-i) have shown effective cardioprotection in cardiac I/R injury. We aimed to investigate whether SGLT2-i reduces myocardial dysfunction and myocardial injury to a greater extent than DPP4-i in obese insulin-resistant rats with/without cardiac I/R injury. The high-fat (HF) diet-induced obese insulin-resistant rats were divided into 4 groups and received the following treatments for 28 days: vehicle (HFV); vildagliptin at a dosage of 3 mg/kg/day (HFVil); dapagliflozin at a dosage of 1 mg/kg/day (HFDa) and combination drugs (HFDaVil). At the end, I/R injury was induced by a 30-min left anterior descending coronary occlusion and 120-min reperfusion. Dapagliflozin showed a greater efficacy than vildagliptin in improving the metabolic impairments, low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio, systolic blood pressure and left ventricular (LV) function in comparison to HFV rats. In cardiac I/R injury, dapagliflozin had a greater efficacy than vildagiptin in decreasing mitochondrial DRP1, cleaved caspase 3, LV dysfunction and infarct size in comparison to HFV rats. However, the combined therapy showed the greatest efficacy in attenuating LV dysfunction, mitochondrial DRP1 and infarct size in comparison to HFV rats. In conclusion, dapagliflozin has a more pronounced effect than vildagliptin in obese insulin-resistant rats for the improvement of LV function. In rats with cardiac I/R injury, although dapagliflozin had a greater efficacy on cardioprotection than vildagliptin, the combined therapy exerted the highest cardioprotective effects potentially by reducing mitochondrial fission.

Effect of Tofogliflozin on Body Composition and Glycemic Control in Japanese Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor tofogliflozin is a new type of antidiabetic drug for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to examine in which type of individuals and/or under which conditions tofogliflozin could exert more beneficial effects on body composition and/or glycemic control in Japanese individuals with T2DM. We retrospectively evaluated the effects of tofogliflozin on body composition and/or glycemic control in individuals with T2DM who newly started taking tofogliflozin. After tofogliflozin treatment, body weight was significantly reduced and HbA1c levels were significantly decreased. Body fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle index, a marker for sarcopenia, were also reduced after the treatment. In univariate analyses, there was a statistically significant association between the decrease of HbA1c level after tofogliflozin treatment (Δ HbA1c) and the following parameters such as HbA1c levels at baseline, visceral fat area (VFA) at baseline, and reduction of VFA after the treatment (Δ VFA). Furthermore, in multivariate analyses, HbA1c levels at baseline and duration of diabetes were independently associated with Δ HbA1c. These results suggest that tofogliflozin would be more suitable for relatively obese individuals whose duration of diabetes is relatively short.

Does SGLT2 inhibition with dapagliflozin overcome individual therapy resistance to RAAS inhibition?

Individual patients show a large variation in their response to renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system (RAAS) inhibition (RAASi), both in surrogates such as albuminuria and in hard renal outcomes. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2) have been shown to lower albuminuria and to confer cardiovascular and, possibly, renal protection. To establish whether individual therapy resistance to RAASi can be overcome by adding an SGLT2 inhibitor, we assessed individual albuminuria responses in patients exposed to both RAASi and the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin. We used data from a randomized controlled cross-over trial designed to assess the albuminuria-lowering effect of 6-week treatment with dapagliflozin 10 mg/d. We extracted from the electronic medical records data on the albuminuria response upon initiation of RAASi before the trial period, and analysed individual albuminuria responses to RAASi and to dapagliflozin. We retrieved data on RAASi for 26 patients (age, 62 years [SD, 8]; female gender, 6 [23%]; 24-hour urinary albumin excretion, 521 [187-921] mg/24 h). The mean albuminuria-lowering response to RAASi was 26.5% (range, -76.1% to 135.1%). The addition of dapagliflozin res in a further reduction of 34.9%, (range, -83.9 to 94.2). Interestingly, the albuminuria response to RAASi significantly correlated with the response to dapagliflozin (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.635 [95% CI, 0.328-0.821]; P < .001), indicating that patients who did not respond to RAASi also did not respond to dapagliflozin. We concluded that individual therapy resistance to RAASi cannot be overcome with the addition of a completely different class of drugs, SGLT2 inhibitors. These data suggest that the individual drug response is an intrinsic individual characteristic, possibly unrelated to the type of intervention, unless the mode of action of dapagliflozin on albuminuria is through the RAAS.

Benefits of SGLT2 Inhibitors Beyond Glycemic Control - A Focus on Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new pharmacotherapeutic class for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate beneficial effects of the SGLT2 inhibitors on metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal outcomes.

METHODS

A Pub-Med search (1966 to July 2017) was performed of published English articles using keywords sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. A review of literature citations provided further references. The search identified 17 clinical trials and 2 meta-analyses with outcomes of weight loss and blood pressure reduction with dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, or empagliflozin. Three randomized trials focused on either empagliflozin or canagliflozin and reduction of cardiovascular disease and progression of renal disease.

RESULTS

SGLT2 inhibitors have a beneficial profile in the treatment of T2DM. They have evidence of reducing weight between 2.9 kilograms when used as monotherapy to 4.7 kilograms when used in combination with metformin, and reducing systolic blood pressure between 3 to 5 mmHg and reducing diastolic blood pressure approximately 2 mmHg. To date, reduction of cardiovascular events was seen specifically with empagliflozin in patients with T2DM and a history of cardiovascular disease. In the same population, empagliflozin was associated with slowing the progression of kidney disease. Moreover, patients with increased risk of cardiovascular disease treated with canagliflozin have decreased risk of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke. Data regarding these outcomes with dapagliflozin are underway.

CONCLUSION

SGLT2 inhibitors demonstrate some positive metabolic effects. In addition, empagliflozin specifically has demonstrated reduction in cardiovascular events and delay in the progression of kidney disease in patients with T2DM and a history of cardiovascular disease. Further data is needed to assess if this is a class effect.

[SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 receptor agonist in a patient with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease ?]

Two classes of antidiabetic agents have shown a cardiovascular and renal protection in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk. Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, and liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, were granted a reduction of major cardiovascular events and mortality after the positive results of EMPA-REG OUTCOME and LEADER outcome trials, respectively. Protection mechanisms most probably differ between the two pharmacological classes and are perhaps complementary. The question that may arise in clinical practice is to know which drug should be selected between these two options in a patient with type 2 and established cardiovascular disease, before considering a potential combination. The aim of this article is to discuss about the best therapeutic choice according to the patient individual profile and the specificities of each molecule.

SGLT2 inhibitors-induced electrolyte abnormalities: An analysis of the associated mechanisms

AIMS

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of antidiabetic drugs that affect serum electrolytes levels. The aim of this review is the detailed presentation of the associated mechanisms of the SGLT2 inhibitors-induced electrolyte abnormalities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eligible trials and relevant articles published in PubMed (last search in July 2017) are included in the review.

RESULTS

SGLT2 inhibitors induce small increases in serum concentrations of magnesium, potassium and phosphate. The small increase in serum phosphate concentration may result in reduced bone density and increased risk of bone fractures, mainly seen with canagliflozin, but recent meta-analyses did not show increased risk of bone fractures with SGLT2 inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

The increases in serum electrolytes levels may play a role in the cardiovascular protection that has been recently reported with empagliflozin and canagliflozin.

Efficacy and Renal Safety of Dapagliflozin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Also Receiving Metformin: A Real-Life Experience

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who also received metformin in clinical practice in Italy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study and it included data from patients who received dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily in conjunction with metformin for 12 months (DAPA + MET). In those with inadequate glycemic control, insulin or glimepiride was added after 30 days (DAPA + MET + other glucose-lowering drugs). Efficacy assessments included glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels at 6 and 12 months, as well as body mass index (BMI) and lipid parameters at 12 months. Safety was also assessed.

RESULTS

Data on 66 patients were included. In both groups, HbA_1c was significantly reduced at 6 and 12 months compared with baseline and significant reductions in HbA_1c were observed at 12 months compared with 6 months. Over the 12-month treatment period, dapagliflozin significantly reduced BMI in both groups. No significant changes in lipid parameters were observed in either group and no detrimental effects on renal function were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin is effective and safe in patients with T2D also receiving metformin. Glycemic control was already achieved with dapagliflozin + metformin, and add-on therapy was not associated with further improvements.

Drug updates and approvals: 2017 in review

In 2017, the FDA approved several new drugs for use in primary care. This article highlights the following new drugs: brodalumab (Siliq), dapagliflozin and saxagliptin (Qtern), dupilumab (Dupixent), oxymetazoline (Rhofade), safinamide (Xadago), and sarilumab (Kevzara).

Rationale and design of the DARWIN-T2D (DApagliflozin Real World evIdeNce in Type 2 Diabetes): A multicenter retrospective nationwide Italian study and crowdsourcing opportunity

BACKGROUND

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the field of diabetes have limitations inherent to the fact that design, setting, and patient characteristics may be poorly transferrable to clinical practice. Thus, evidence from studies using routinely accumulated clinical data are increasingly valued.

AIMS

We herein describe rationale and design of the DARWIN-T2D (DApagliflozin Real World evIdeNce in Type 2 Diabetes), a multicenter retrospective nationwide study conducted at 50 specialist outpatient clinics in Italy and promoted by the Italian Diabetes Society.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The primary objective of the study is to describe the baseline clinical characteristics (particularly HbA1c) of patients initiated on dapagliflozin from marketing authorization approval to the end of 2016. Secondary and exploratory objectives will evaluate the changes in glycaemic and extraglycaemic efficacy parameters after initiation of dapagliflozin or after initiation of comparator glucose lowering medications (DPP-4 inhibitors, gliclazide extended release, and long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists). An automated software will extract relevant data from the same electronic chart system at all centres, thereby minimizing data treatment and human intervention.

CONCLUSION

The study is expected to collect an enormous dataset of information on dapagliflozin- and comparator-using patients. After study completion, the Italian Diabetes Society will launch an open crowdsourcing call on the DARWIN-T2D database, challenging diabetes researchers to apply their ideas and approaches to address new unmet needs and knowledge gaps in diabetes. We believe this will move DARWIN-T2D to the next generation of real world studies.

Hepatoprotective effect of peony total glucosides and the underlying mechanisms in diabetic rats

CONTEXT

Total glucosides of peony (TGP), compounds extracted from the dried roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. However, the protective effect of TGP on liver injury and the underlying mechanisms remains unknown in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES

Current study investigates prevention of liver injury by TGP in diabetic rats and its mechanism was related to the inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty adult male rats were randomly divided into: Normal group, diabetic group, TGP (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) treatment groups (n = 10 per group). At the end of the 8th week, the liver was removed for biochemical and histological examinations.

RESULTS

Compared with the diabetic group, administration of TGP at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly prevented the increase of hepatic fibrosis score (ED₅₀ 139.4 mg/kg). Compared with diabetic group, TGP at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg showed an inhibition on the increased macrophage infiltration. MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA and protein expression were significantly increased in diabetic group compared with normal group; TGP administration caused significant reduction of high levels of MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA as well as protein levels. Also, TGP at all doses showed an inhibition on the increased GRP78 levels, p-Perk levels and p-Eif2α levels in liver from diabetic group.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that TGP has potential as a treatment for diabetic liver injury attenuating liver lipid accumulation and inflammation as well as ERS induced by diabetic condition.

Fournier's gangrene in a man on empagliflozin for treatment of Type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SLGT2) inhibitors has been associated with an increased risk of genital infections secondary to increased glycosuria.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a 41-year-old man with type 2 diabetes treated with empagliflozin and metformin who presented with scrotal swelling. He described multiple preceding episodes of genital thrush for which he self-administered over-the-counter anti-fungal treatment. On examination, he was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. Perineal examination revealed grossly swollen and indurated scrotum with bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. Investigations showed elevated inflammatory markers and HbA1c of 99 mmol/mol (11.2%). Computed tomography revealed features consistent with Fournier's gangrene. He underwent emergency exploration and debridement under anaesthetic with a later return to theatre for further exploration, washout and application of a vacuum dressing. He then received a split skin graft to his perineum. He required a 2-week course of intravenous antibiotics and was discharged home on oral antibiotics. Empagliflozin was ceased on admission and he was commenced on a basal bolus insulin regimen for glycaemic optimisation.

CONCLUSION

There is a wide clinical spectrum of genital infections associated with SGLT2 inhibitors with most being generally mild and easily treated. However, risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, immunosuppressed states, smoking, alcohol abuse and end-stage renal or liver failure may increase the risk of potentially more severe infections such as Fournier's gangrene. Timely cessation of SGLT2 inhibitors in individuals with multiple risk factors may help prevent progression to more severe genital infections.

Can we go beyond surrogates?

Two years ago, data presented at the annual American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting in New Orleans showed a marked decrease in deaths, especially those due to cardiovascular disease, with the use of empagliflozin. Two major questions have been asked: (i) was the result a fluke; and (ii) was it a class effect, or was it specific to the agent used? The hope that both questions would be answered by a second study has been answered: the conclusions of EMPA-REG were not an anomaly and it is a class effect, not one caused by a specific drug. Importantly, do these studies require us to alter our algorithms for the treatment of type 2 diabetes? The CANagliflozin cardioVascular Assessment Study (CANVAS) was designed similarly to EMPA-REG, enrolling individuals who either had known cardiac disease or were at high risk for cardiac disease. In fact, CANVAS involved two stages, CANVAS and CANVAS R, which can be analyzed together. There were 10 142 patients in the combined trial followed for a mean of 3.6 years. The average age was 63.3 years, 35.8% were women, the mean duration of diabetes was 13.5 years, and 65.6% had known cardiovascular disease. In EMPA-REG, 7020 patients were followed for 3.1 years, 28.5% were women, and all had established cardiovascular disease. The primary endpoint of both studies was the composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. In both studies, the components of the composite endpoint were studied along with other endpoints, including hospitalization for heart failure, all-cause mortality, and progression of renal disease. The primary endpoint was identically positive for superiority with hazard ratio of 0.86 for empagliflozin versus placebo and for canagliflozin versus placebo. Some differences were observed: both death from cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality occurred significantly less frequently with empagliflozin in EMPA-REG, but the 13% lower total and cardiovascular mortality seen with canagliflozin in CANVAS was not statistically significant. Both studies showed a lower likelihood of hospitalization for heart failure with the intervention, even in patients without known heart failure at baseline, suggesting either that that diagnosis is often missed or that de novo heart failure may be prevented by these agents. Perhaps the strongest answer to the initial two questions comes from the CVD-REAL Study. Rather than being a randomized controlled clinical trial, that study analyzed medical claims, primary care or hospital records, and national registries from the US, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the UK, including 309 056 patients started on a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor or on other glucose-lowering drugs using a propensity score matching algorithm. Canagliflozin was used by 53% of those receiving SGLT2 inhibitors, dapagliflozin was used by 42% and empagliflozin was used by 5%; those using these agents had hazard ratios for hospitalization for heart failure and for mortality of 0.61 and 0.49, respectively, with no differences either by country or by drug. The interesting hypothesis that this and the two controlled trials show the harm of alternative treatments of diabetes rather than the benefit of SGLT2 inhibitors has not been confirmed by subset analyses of drug use in the control groups. There are several potentially important differences between the studies. Strokes increased with empagliflozin in EMPA-REG (not statistically significant). There was a significantly increased likelihood of lower extremity amputation in CANVAS, although these events may not have been fully studied in EMPA-REG. Finally, the benefit of SGLT2 inhibitor therapy were seen within 3 months in EMPA-REG, while not appearing as rapidly in CANVAS. Furthermore, in neither study was there a reduction in non-fatal myocardial infarction. These considerations suggest that the benefit of SGLT2 inhibitors is not due to improvement in the underlying atherosclerotic process. It is likely that all SGLT2 inhibitors will receive an indication for secondary prevention of heart failure; whether the agents should be used in primary prevention is a much more difficult question, because it would require a very large study of patients without heart disease. The introduction of HbA1c measurements in the late 1970s radically and significantly improved our treatment of diabetes. However, our treatment of diabetes is ultimately not to lower HbA1c, but to prevent the complications of diabetes. Values of HbA1c are only a surrogate measure of diabetes. Currently, there is little agreement on the treatment algorithm for diabetes after metformin therapy. One may now argue that an SGLT2 inhibitor should be the preferred second-line therapy.

Effect of Dapagliflozin on Glycemic Control, Weight, and Blood Pressure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Attending a Specialist Endocrinology Practice in Canada: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

BACKGROUND

In randomized clinical trials, dapagliflozin has been shown to improve glycemic control, weight, and blood pressure. However, there is little real-world evidence of the effectiveness of dapagliflozin. The objective of this study is to investigate the real-world treatment outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who initiated dapagliflozin in a referral-based endocrinology practice.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with T2D who initiated dapagliflozin in 2015, using data from a large, specialist diabetes registry in Canada.

RESULTS

1520 patients were eligible for analysis. Following 3 to 6 months of treatment, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decreased by a mean of 0.9% ± 1.3% (9.8 ± 14.2 mmol/mol) (P < 0.01), weight decreased 2.2 ± 3.1 kg (P < 0.01), and systolic blood pressure decreased 3.7 ± 14.3 mmHg (P < 0.01). The proportion of patients who achieved glycemic control (HbA1c ≤7.0%) increased from 7.0% at baseline to 27.0% during follow-up. There was also a statistically significant decrease from baseline in body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and the proportion of patients with microalbuminuria (P < 0.01). A higher baseline HbA1c, shorter duration of diabetes, male gender, and greater weight loss were each independently associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world clinical setting in Canada, dapagliflozin produced significant improvements in HbA1c, weight, and blood pressure in patients with T2D, comparable to that seen in randomized clinical trials.

SGLT2-inhibitors in type-2 diabetes: The remaining questions!

As the SGLT2-i therapy progressively carves out a forte in the management of diabetes, multiple equally significant questions justly occupy the medical mind. Aspects pertinent to the influence of this therapy on the renal pathophysiology, the prevention of cardiovascular disease, and considerations for their safe use, hold immense relevance to clinical practice. This review attempts to make an appropriate clinical interpretation of the existing evidence, to evolve a practical perspective on some of these yet unanswered aspects.

Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in patients with inadequately controlled type 1 diabetes (DEPICT-1): 24 week results from a multicentre, double-blind, phase 3, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Dapagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin as an add-on to adjustable insulin in patients with inadequately controlled type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

DEPICT-1 was a double-blind, randomised, parallel-controlled, three-arm, phase 3, multicentre study done at 143 sites in 17 countries. Eligible patients were aged 18-75 years and had inadequately controlled type 1 diabetes (HbA_1c between ≥7·7% and ≤11·0% [≥61·0 mmol/mol and ≤97·0 mmol/mol]) and had been prescribed insulin for at least 12 months before enrolment. After an 8 week lead-in period to optimise diabetes management, patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) using an interactive voice response system to dapagliflozin 5 mg or 10 mg once daily, given orally, or matched placebo. Randomisation was stratified by current use of continuous glucose monitoring, method of insulin administration, and baseline HbA_1c. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline in HbA_1c after 24 weeks of treatment in the full analysis set, which consisted of all randomly assigned patients who received at least one dose of study drug. An additional 55 patients who were incorrectly and non-randomly allocated to only dapagliflozin treatment groups were included in the safety analysis set. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02268214; data collection for the present analysis was completed on Jan 4, 2017, and a 28 week extension phase is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between Nov 11, 2014, and April 16, 2016, 833 patients were assigned to treatment groups and included in safety analyses (dapagliflozin 5 mg [n=277] vs dapagliflozin 10 mg [n=296] vs placebo [n=260]; 778 of these patients were randomly assigned and included in the full analysis set for efficacy analyses (259 vs 259 vs 260; difference due to randomisation error affecting 55 patients). Mean baseline HbA_1c was 8·53% (70 mmol/mol; SD 0·67% [7·3 mmol/mol]). At week 24, both doses of dapagliflozin significantly reduced HbA_1c compared with placebo (mean difference from baseline to week 24 for dapagliflozin 5 mg vs placebo was -0·42% [95% CI -0·56 to -0·28; p<0·0001] and for dapagliflozin 10 mg vs placebo was -0·45% [-0·58 to -0·31; p<0·0001]). Among patients in the dapagliflozin 5 mg (n=277), dapagliflozin 10 mg (n=296), and placebo (n=260) groups, the most common adverse events were nasopharyngitis (38 [14%] vs 36 [12%] vs 39 [15%]), urinary tract infection (19 [7%] vs 11 [4%] vs 13 [5%]), upper respiratory tract infection (15 [5%] vs 15 [5%] vs 11 [4%]), and headache (12 [4%] vs 17 [6%] vs 11 [4%]). Hypoglycaemia occurred in 220 (79%), 235 (79%), and 207 (80%) patients in the dapagliflozin 5 mg, dapagliflozin 10 mg, and placebo groups, respectively; severe hypoglycaemia occurred in 21 (8%), 19 (6%), and 19 (7%) patients, respectively. Adjudicated definite diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in four (1%) patients in the dapagliflozin 5 mg group, five (2%) in the dapagliflozin 10 mg group, and three (1%) in the placebo group.

INTERPRETATION

Our results suggest that dapagliflozin is a promising adjunct treatment to insulin to improve glycaemic control in patients with inadequately controlled type 1 diabetes.

FUNDING

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Impact of empagliflozin on blood pressure in dipper and non-dipper patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension

In the EMPA-REG BP trial, empagliflozin significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) compared with placebo at week 12 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension. In a post-hoc analysis, we assessed the effect of empagliflozin on SBP and DBP using 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring in patients categorized as dippers (sleep-time mean SBP ≤ 90% of awake-time mean; n = 417) or non-dippers (sleep-time mean SBP > 90% of awake-time mean; n = 350). In dippers, adjusted mean (SE) changes from baseline in mean 24-hour SBP (mm Hg) at week 12 were -0.2 (0.7) with placebo vs -3.8 (0.6) and -3.9 (0.7) with empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg, respectively (both P  < .001 vs placebo). In non-dippers, these changes were 1.0 (0.7) with placebo vs -1.6 (0.7) with empagliflozin 10 mg ( P  = .013 vs placebo) and -3.8 (0.7) with empagliflozin 25 mg ( P  < .001 vs placebo). In both dippers and non-dippers, SBP and DBP patterns over 24 hours were maintained. There were no clinically relevant changes in heart rate with empagliflozin. In conclusion, empagliflozin significantly reduced mean 24-hour SBP compared with placebo in dippers and non-dippers.

Dapagliflozin slows the progression of the renal and liver fibrosis associated with type 2 diabetes

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of antidiabetic oral agents indicating promising effects on cardiovascular and renal end points. However, the renoprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors are not fully understood. Also, metabolic effects of SGLT2 inhibition on other organ systems, such as effects on hepatic steatosis, are not fully understood. This study sought to address these questions by treating 18-wk-old uninephrectomized db/db mice with the selective SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin. Untreated db/db mice developed progressive albuminuria, glomerular mesangial matrix expansion, and fatty liver associated with increased renal expression of TGFβ1, PAI-1, type IV collagen and fibronectin, and liver deposition of fibronectin, type I and III collagen, and laminin. Treatment with dapagliflozin (1 mg·kg^-1·day^-1) via gel diet from 18 to 22 wk of age not only reduced blood glucose (371.14 ± 55.02 mg/dl in treated db/db vs. 573.53 ± 21.73 mg/dl in untreated db/db, P < 0.05) and Hb A_1c levels (9.47 ± 0.79% in treated db/db vs. 12.1 ± 0.73% in untreated db/db, P < 0.05) but also ameliorated the increases in albuminuria and markers of glomerulosclerosis and liver injury seen in untreated db/db mice. Furthermore, both renal expressions of NF-kB p65, MCP-1, Nox4, Nox2, and p47phox and urine TBARS levels and liver productions of myeloperoxidase and reactive oxygen species, the markers of tissue inflammation and oxidative stress, were increased in untreated db/db mice, which were reduced by dapagliflozin administration. These results demonstrate that dapagliflozin not only improves hyperglycemia but also slows the progression of diabetes-associated glomerulosclerosis and liver fibrosis by improving hyperglycemia-induced tissue inflammation and oxidative stress.

Comparison of tofogliflozin 20 mg and ipragliflozin 50 mg used together with insulin glargine 300 U/mL using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM): A randomized crossover study

To investigate whether sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), tofogliflozin or ipragliflozin, achieve optimal glycemic variability, when used together with insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Glargine 300). Thirty patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to 2 groups. For the first group: After admission, tofogliflozin 20 mg was administered; Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were titrated using an algorithm and stabilized at 80 mg/dL level with Glargine 300 for 5 days; Next, glucose levels were continuously monitored for 2 days using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM); Tofogliflozin was then washed out over 5 days; Subsequently, ipragliflozin 50 mg was administered; FPG levels were titrated using the same algorithm and stabilized at 80 mg/dL level with Glargine 300 for 5 days; Next, glucose levels were continuously monitored for 2 days using CGM. For the second group, ipragliflozin was administered prior to tofogliflozin, and the same regimen was maintained. Glargine 300 and SGLT2i were administered at 8:00 AM. Data collected on the second day of measurement (mean amplitude of glycemic excursion [MAGE], average daily risk range [ADRR]; on all days of measurement) were analyzed. Area over the glucose curve (<70 mg/dL; 0:00 to 6:00, 24-h), M value, standard deviation, MAGE, ADRR, and mean glucose levels (24-h, 8:00 to 24:00) were significantly lower in patients on tofogliflozin than in those on ipragliflozin. Tofogliflozin, which reduces glycemic variability by preventing nocturnal hypoglycemia and decreasing postprandial glucose levels, is an ideal SGLT2i when used together with Glargine 300 during basal insulin therapy.