Promising roles of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure prevention and treatment

Effect of ipragliflozin on liver function in Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: subgroup analysis of a 3-year post-marketing surveillance study (STELLA-LONG TERM)

The STELLA-LONG TERM prospective post-marketing surveillance study assessed ipragliflozin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This subgroup analysis of patients with liver impairment used the final 3-year results. Data on patients, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and changes in glycemic parameters and liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase [γ-GTP] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) were collected, and the fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated. In the effectiveness analysis (n = 8,763), baseline liver function was normal in 2,605 patients (ALT <31/<21 U/L [men/women]) and abnormal in 3,277 (ALT ≥31/≥21 U/L). The abnormal liver function group had higher mean body weight and BMI than the normal liver function group (p < 0.001). In the safety analysis (n = 11,051), urinary tract infections, genital infections and hepatic disorders were more common in the abnormal than normal liver function group (2.25% vs. 1.07%; 1.78% vs. 1.14% and 1.85% vs. 1.01%). In the abnormal liver function group, there were significant (p < 0.001) decreases from baseline at 36 months in AST and ALT (from 38.8 and 53.7 U/L to 29.3 and 37.7 U/L, respectively), γ-GTP (from 75.4 to 51.7 U/L) and ALP (from 254.8 to 234.5 U/L), which were greater than in the normal liver function group. FLI reductions at 36 months were significant (p < 0.001) in subgroups with baseline FLI of ≥30 or ≥60. In conclusion, ipragliflozin improved liver function over 3 years in patients with impaired liver function, although ADRs occurred more frequently than in the normal liver function group.

Safety and Effectiveness of Ipragliflozin in Elderly Versus Non-elderly Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Subgroup Analysis of STELLA-LONG TERM

INTRODUCTION

STELLA-LONG TERM is a post-marketing surveillance study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of ipragliflozin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

Patients were classified by age at ipragliflozin initiation (< 65 and ≥ 65 years), and elderly patients were subclassified by baseline body mass index (BMI) < 25.0 or ≥ 25.0 kg/m². Incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and effectiveness were evaluated over 3 years.

RESULTS

Among 11,051 patients, 7894 (71.4%) were aged < 65 years and 3157 (28.6%) ≥ 65 years. The 3-year ADR incidence was similar in patients aged ≥ 65 (19.04%) and < 65 years (19.36%; P = 0.701). Serious ADRs were more frequent in the subgroup ≥ 65 years (2.79% vs 1.55%; P < 0.001). In terms of ADRs of special interest, a significantly greater proportion of elderly patients had skin complications (2.22% vs 1.62%, P = 0.033), renal disorders (2.28% vs 1.51%, P = 0.005), hypoglycemia (0.73% vs 0.43%, P = 0.048), or malignant tumors (1.01% vs 0.24%, P < 0.001), while the incidence of polyuria/pollakiuria (5.97% vs 4.47%, P = 0.002) and hepatic disorders (1.39% vs 0.73%, P = 0.004) was significantly higher in non-elderly than elderly patients. In patients aged ≥ 65 years, the incidence of ADRs was higher when baseline BMI was ≥ 25 kg/m² versus < 25 kg/m² (24.40% vs 17.68%; P < 0.001). Glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, and body weight significantly decreased from baseline in both age groups at each evaluation up to 3 years (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Ipragliflozin was well tolerated and effective for 3 years in routine clinical use in elderly and non-elderly patients, although elderly patients had a higher rate of serious ADRs. No new safety concerns were identified.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02479399.

Shift of conventional paradigm of heart failure treatment: from angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors?

Current clinical guidelines for heart failure (HF) contain a brand new therapeutic strategy for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), which is based on neurohumoral modulation through the use of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors. There is a large body of evidence for the fact that sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors may significantly improve all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for HF in patients with HFrEF who received renin-angiotensin system blockers including angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors, β-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. The review discusses that sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors have a wide spectrum of favorable molecular effects and contribute to tissue protection, improving survival in HFrEF patients.

Real-World Evidence for Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of Ipragliflozin in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: final Results of a 3-Year Post-Marketing Surveillance Study (STELLA-LONG TERM)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of ipragliflozin in real-world clinical practice in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This post-marketing surveillance study (STELLA-LONG TERM) included Japanese patients newly initiated on ipragliflozin between 17 July 2014 and 16 October 2015 (data lock: 30 September 2019). Survey items included demographics, treatments, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), vital signs, and laboratory variables.

RESULTS

Of 11,424 registered patients, safety and efficacy analysis sets comprised of 11,051 and 8,763 patients, respectively. ADRs occurred in 2,129 patients (19.27%) and serious ADRs occurred in 210 patients (1.90%). Renal and urinary disorders (n = 739, 6.69%), particularly polyuria/pollakiuria (n = 612, 5.54%) and volume depletion-events, including dehydration (n = 243, 2.20%), comprised the most common ADRs. Mean (SD) change in hemoglobin A1c (─0.66 [1.25] %), fasting plasma glucose (─28.8 [50.1] mg/dL) and body weight (─3.33 [4.32] kg) from baseline to 36 months were statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The safety profile of long-term ipragliflozin treatment in routine clinical practice is consistent with previously reported interim data at 12 or 24 months and pre-approval clinical trials. Ipragliflozin treatment was also associated with sustained improvements in efficacy parameters for over 3 years.