Turning glucosuria into a therapy: Efficacy and safety with SGLT2 inhibitors

SGLT-2 Inhibitors and Peripheral Artery Disease: A Statistical Hoax or Reality?

Inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporters type-2 are the most recent addition to the armamentarium of oral antidiabetic agents. This class of drugs has shown promising results in glycemic control and most importantly to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk. Despite the encouraging data, there is concern regarding their potential for causing or worsening peripheral artery disease (PAD), which may increase the risk of lower extremity amputations. Following the publication of results of CANVAS and CANVAS-R trials, which revealed that leg and mid-foot amputations occurred about twice as often in patients treated with canagliflozin compared to placebo, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States issued a black box warning of leg and foot amputations associated with canagliflozin use. In this article, our main aim is to review the available evidence in preclinical and clinical studies regarding SGLT-2 inhibitors and PAD events, the possible mechanisms related to increased risk of amputation, to evaluate whether it is a class effect or individual drug effect, and most importantly, implications for their continued use as antidiabetic agents. It also raises the issue of including PAD events among the end-points when assessing future antihyperglycemic agents. Thus, we also tried to analyze whether outcomes of SGLT2 inhibitors trials mostly focused on stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease-related outcomes remained underrated.

Sodium-glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors: Moving Beyond the Glycemic Treatment Goal

Revelations of the multifactorial pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that extend beyond the role of insulin and glucose utilization have been crucial in redefining the treatment paradigm. The focus of treatment is currently directed towards achieving wide-ranging targets encompassing the management of cardiovascular comorbidities that have been evidenced as indispensable aspects of T2DM. While most currently prescribed antihyperglycemic agents have little or no effect on reducing cardiovascular risks, some have been associated with undesirable effects on common risk factors such as weight gain and cardiovascular sequelae. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are newer additions to the array of therapeutic agents for T2DM that have demonstrated robust glycemic control as mono and add-on therapies. Their unique renal mode of action, independent of insulin modulation, confers complementary metabolic benefits. By virtue of these effects, SGLT2i may have a distinct role in the revised treatment recommendations by established working groups such as the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists that advocate a more comprehensive management of T2DM, not restricting to glycemic targets. The current review gives an overview of the changing treatment needs for T2DM and discusses the nonglycemic effects of SGLT2i. It provides an updated summary on the efficacy of canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin in promoting weight loss, stabilizing blood pressure, and other favorable metabolic effects.

Safe and pragmatic use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes mellitus: South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies consensus statement

Diabetes prevalence shows a continuous increasing trend in South Asia. Although well-established treatment modalities exist for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management, they are limited by their side effect profile. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) with their novel insulin-independent renal action provide improved glycemic control, supplemented by reduction in weight and blood pressure, and cardiovascular safety. Based on the clinical outcomes with SGLT2i in patients with T2DM, treatment strategies that make a "good clinical sense" are desirable. Considering the peculiar lifestyle, body types, dietary patterns (long duration religious fasts), and the hot climate of the South Asian population, a unanimous decision was taken to design specific, customized guidelines for T2DM treatment strategies in these regions. The panel met for a discussion three times so as to get a consensus for the guidelines, and only unanimous consensus was included. After careful consideration of the quality and strength of the available evidence, the executive summary of this consensus statement was developed based on the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology protocol.

Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a 27 year-old female patient with type-1-Diabetes treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor Canagliflozin

We are reporting a timely case of atypical euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in a type 1 diabetic patient treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor canagliflozin. The clinical history, physical examination findings and laboratory values are described. Other causes of acidosis such as salicylate toxicity or alcohol intoxication were excluded. Ketoacidosis resolved after increasing dextrose and insulin doses supporting the hypothesis that SGLT-2 inhibitors may lead to hypoinsulinemia. Euglycemic ketoacidosis did not recur in our patient after discontinuing canagliflozin. We recommend reserving SGLT2 inhibitor therapy to type 2 diabetics, discontinuing medication and treating patients presenting with ketoacidosis due to SGLT-2 inhibitors with higher concentrations of dextrose with appropriate doses of insulin to help resolve acidosis.

Canagliflozin: A Novel SGLT2 Inhibitor for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus continues to be a major non- communicable disease with global burden of 366 million at present and projected to increase to 439 to 552 million by 2030, India being the hub of diabetes. Sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors presents a new class of anti-diabetic drugs having an insulin-independent mechanism that offers a considerable advantage of increasing urinary glucose excretion without inducing hypoglycemia and promoting weight loss due to loss of 300 to 400kcal/day, Canagliflozin being the 1^st successful candidate of this group and became the first SGLT2 inhibitor to be FDA approved on March 29, 2013. In various clinical trials, it has shown promising results in controlling glycemia, causing weight loss, reducing systolic and diastolic BP and cardiovascular risk. There are some safety concerns associated with its use e.g. genital mycotic infections, increased urination, urinary tract infection and hyperkalemia, which need to be carefully addressed while using this drug.

Natural product and natural product derived drugs in clinical trials

The 25 Natural Product (NP)-derived drugs launched since 2008 and the 100 NP-derived compounds and 33 Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in clinical trials or in registration at the end of 2013 are reviewed.

CoMFA and CoMSIA studies on C-aryl glucoside SGLT2 inhibitors as potential anti-diabetic agents

SGLT2 has become a target of therapeutic interest in diabetes research. CoMFA and CoMSIA studies were performed on C-aryl glucoside SGLT2 inhibitors (180 analogues) as potential anti-diabetic agents. Three different alignment strategies were used for the compounds. The best CoMFA and CoMSIA models were obtained by means of Distill rigid body alignment of training and test sets, and found statistically significant with cross-validated coefficients (q²) of 0.602 and 0.618, respectively, and conventional coefficients (r²) of 0.905 and 0.902, respectively. Both models were validated by a test set of 36 compounds giving satisfactory predicted correlation coefficients (r² pred) of 0.622 and 0.584 for CoMFA and CoMSIA models, respectively. A comparison was made with earlier 3D QSAR study on SGLT2 inhibitors, which shows that our 3D QSAR models are better than earlier models to predict good inhibitory activity. CoMFA and CoMSIA models generated in this work can provide useful information to design new compounds and helped in prediction of activity prior to synthesis.

Effect of Ipragliflozin (ASP1941), a novel selective sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, on urinary glucose excretion in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycaemia is associated with serious complications, significant morbidity and death. Despite the availability of a wide range of therapeutic options, many patients with diabetes mellitus fail to achieve or maintain recommended glycaemic goals. Ipragliflozin (ASP1941) is a novel, selective inhibitor of the sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2, which is highly expressed in the proximal tubules of the kidneys. It suppresses renal glucose reabsorption and increases urinary glucose excretion (UGE), potentially providing an insulin-independent treatment option for type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This multiple ascending-dose study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ipragliflozin in healthy subjects after single doses and multiple once-daily doses for 10 days (dose levels: 5-600 mg).

RESULTS

Ipragliflozin was well tolerated following single and multiple once-daily oral dosing. Ipragliflozin was rapidly absorbed with a median time to reach the maximum plasma concentration of 1.3 hours after the last dose. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve increased proportionally with increasing dose. The mean elimination half-life was 12 hours following the last dose. Ipragliflozin dose dependently increased UGE up to a maximum of approximately 59 g (327 mmol) of glucose excreted over 24 hours following multiple doses, without affecting plasma glucose levels in healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

Administration of ipragliflozin was well tolerated and resulted in a rapid, dose-dependent increase in glucosuria. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data suggest that ipragliflozin is suitable for prolonged once-daily oral treatment.

Effect of Ipragliflozin (ASP1941), a novel selective sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, on urinary glucose excretion in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycaemia is associated with serious complications, significant morbidity and death. Despite the availability of a wide range of therapeutic options, many patients with diabetes mellitus fail to achieve or maintain recommended glycaemic goals. Ipragliflozin (ASP1941) is a novel, selective inhibitor of the sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2, which is highly expressed in the proximal tubules of the kidneys. It suppresses renal glucose reabsorption and increases urinary glucose excretion (UGE), potentially providing an insulin-independent treatment option for type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This multiple ascending-dose study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ipragliflozin in healthy subjects after single doses and multiple once-daily doses for 10 days (dose levels: 5-600 mg).

RESULTS

Ipragliflozin was well tolerated following single and multiple once-daily oral dosing. Ipragliflozin was rapidly absorbed with a median time to reach the maximum plasma concentration of 1.3 hours after the last dose. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve increased proportionally with increasing dose. The mean elimination half-life was 12 hours following the last dose. Ipragliflozin dose dependently increased UGE up to a maximum of approximately 59 g (327 mmol) of glucose excreted over 24 hours following multiple doses, without affecting plasma glucose levels in healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

Administration of ipragliflozin was well tolerated and resulted in a rapid, dose-dependent increase in glucosuria. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data suggest that ipragliflozin is suitable for prolonged once-daily oral treatment.

SGLT2 inhibitors: a new emerging therapeutic class in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. The existing therapeutic classes of antidiabetic drugs are not adequately effective in maintaining long-term glycemic control in most patients, even when used in combination. One emerging novel therapeutic class of antidiabetic drugs is sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. SGLT2 accounts for 90% of the glucose reabsorption in the kidney. The SGLT2 inhibitors increase urinary excretion of glucose and lower plasma glucose levels in an insulin-independent manner. Dapagliflozin, the most prominent molecule in this class, is currently in a phase III clinical trial. Other members of this class (eg, sergliflozin, remogliflozin) are also in different phases of clinical trials. This class of novel agents can effectively control blood sugar level without producing weight gain or hypoglycemia. Results of ongoing phase III clinical trials are crucial to determine whether the risk-benefit ratio will allow approval of this new class of drugs for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Sweet Pee model for Sglt2 mutation

Inhibiting renal glucose transport is a potential pharmacologic approach to treat diabetes. The renal tubular sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) reabsorbs approximately 90% of the filtered glucose load. An animal model with sglt2 dysfunction could provide information regarding the potential long-term safety and efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors, which are currently under clinical investigation. Here, we describe Sweet Pee, a mouse model that carries a nonsense mutation in the Slc5a2 gene, which results in the loss of sglt2 protein function. The phenotype of Sweet Pee mutants was remarkably similar to patients with mutations in the Scl5a2 gene. The Sweet Pee mutants had improved glucose tolerance, higher urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium, and growth retardation. Renal physiologic studies demonstrated a prominent distal osmotic diuresis without enhanced natriuresis. Sweet Pee mutants did not exhibit increased KIM-1 or NGAL, markers of acute tubular injury. After induction of diabetes, Sweet Pee mice had better overall glycemic control than wild-type control mice, but had a higher risk for infection and an increased mortality rate (70% in homozygous mutants versus 10% in controls at 20 weeks). In summary, the Sweet Pee model allows study of the long-term benefits and risks associated with inhibition of SGLT2 for the management of diabetes. Our model suggests that inhibiting SGLT2 may improve glucose control but may confer increased risks for infection, malnutrition, volume contraction, and mortality.