Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between metformin and a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, evogliptin, in healthy subjects

Acute pharmacodynamic responses to sitagliptin: Drug-induced increase in early insulin secretion in oral glucose tolerance test

DPP4 inhibitors are widely prescribed as treatments for type 2 diabetes. Because drug responses vary among individuals, we initiated investigations to identify genetic variants associated with the magnitude of drug responses. Sitagliptin (100 mg) was administered to 47 healthy volunteers. Several endpoints were measured to assess clinically relevant responses - including the effect of sitagliptin on glucose and insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This pilot study confirmed that sitagliptin (100 mg) decreased the area under the curve for glucose during an OGTT (p = 0.0003). Furthermore, sitagliptin promoted insulin secretion during the early portion of the OGTT as reflected by an increase in the ratio of plasma insulin at 30 min divided by plasma insulin at 60 min (T30:T60) from mean ± SEM 0.87 ± 0.05 to 1.62 ± 0.36 mU/L (p = 0.04). The magnitude of sitagliptin's effect on insulin secretion (as judged by the increase in the T30:T60 ratio for insulin) was correlated with the magnitude of sitagliptin-induced increase in the area under the curve for intact plasma GLP1 levels during the first hour of the OGTT. This study confirmed previously reported sex differences in glucose and insulin levels during an OGTT. Specifically, females exhibited higher levels of glucose and insulin at the 90-180 min time points. However, we did not detect significant sex-associated differences in the magnitude of sitagliptin-induced changes in T30:T60 ratios for either glucose or insulin. In conclusion, T30:T60 ratios for insulin and glucose during an OGTT provide useful indices to assess pharmacodynamic responses to DPP4 inhibitors.

Pharmacokinetics of a Fixed-Dose Combination of Teneligliptin Hydrochloride Hydrate and Modified-Release Metformin Under Fasting and Fed Conditions in Healthy Subjects

Purpose

This study was performed to compare the pharmacokinetics of two fixed-dose combination (FDC) formulations of teneligliptin combined with modified-release metformin in healthy Korean subjects under fasting and fed conditions.

Patients and Methods

The study was a single-center, open-label, single-dose, 2-way, 2-period, crossover trial. A total of 72 eligible subjects (40 subjects in the fasting state study and 32 subjects in the fed study) were enrolled in the study and were randomized to treatment. After the administration of a single FDC tablet of the investigational products, blood samples were collected at specific time intervals from 0 to 96 hours. The plasma concentrations of teneligliptin and metformin were measured by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated, and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios (test/reference) of the parameters were obtained through analysis of variance of the logarithmically transformed data.

Results

The corresponding 90% CIs of area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the time of last measurable concentration (AUCt) and maximum plasma drug concentration (Cmax) for the test/reference geometric mean ratio (GMR) of teneligliptin were 94.81-101.32% and 86.03-97.63%, respectively, under fasting conditions. The corresponding 90% CIs of AUCt and Cmax for the test/reference GMR of metformin were 95.01-108.36% and 94.69-108.40%, respectively, under the fasting state and 98.82-107.56% and 97.25-106.99%, respectively, after feeding. All adverse events were of mild intensity, and the subjects recovered spontaneously without sequelae.

Conclusion

The test FDC drug is equivalent to the reference FDC drug in subjects under fasting and fed conditions within the Korean regulatory bioequivalence criteria. Both formulations were safe and well tolerated, and there were no differences in the safety profiles between the two single FDC formulation drugs.

Trial Registration No

Clinicaltrials.gov. KCT0007757, KCT0007759.

Optimization of bilayer tablet manufacturing process for fixed dose combination of sustained release high-dose drug and immediate release low-dose drug based on quality by design (QbD)

A fixed dose combination (FDC) bilayer tablet, consisting of high-dose metformin HCl in a sustained release layer and low-dose evogliptin tartrate in an immediate release layer, was developed based on a quality by design (QbD) approach. To implement QbD approach, the bilayer tableting process parameters judged as high risk through risk analysis were optimized by a central composite face-centered design as a design of experiment (DOE) methodology. Using DOE, the optimized conditions of the tableting process for drug products that satisfy the established quality target product profiles were obtained. The content uniformity of low-dose evogliptin tartrate in the optimized bilayer tablet prepared on a large scale was confirmed by at-line transmittance Raman spectroscopy as a process analytical technology. In addition, the in vitro drug release and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed that metformin HCl and evogliptin tartrate in the bilayer tablet is bioequivalent to those of the respective reference drugs. Furthermore, the physicochemical stability of the optimized bilayer tablet during storage under long-term and accelerated conditions was also confirmed. Therefore, it can be concluded that the QbD approach is an effective way to develop a new FDC bilayer tablet that is easy to scale up for successful commercialization.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of evogliptin in hepatically impaired patients

AIMS

Evogliptin is a potent and selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor for glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Since evogliptin is mainly eliminated through hepatic metabolism, we investigated the pharmacokinetics (PKs) and safety characteristics of evogliptin in Korean patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.

METHODS

An open-label, parallel-group study was conducted in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment and healthy control subjects matched to each patient for sex, age and body mass index. A single dose (5 mg) of evogliptin was administered orally, and serial blood samples were collected over 120 h to assess the PK profile of evogliptin and its main metabolites (M7 and M8).

RESULTS

Patients with mild hepatic impairment and their matched healthy controls showed similar maximum concentration (C_max ) and area under the concentration-time curve values from 0 to 120 h (AUC_last ); the geometric mean ratio (GMR) and 90% confidence interval (CI) were 1.04 (0.80, 1.35) and 1.01 (0.90, 1.14), respectively. Exposure to evogliptin (C_max and AUC_last ) was increased by about 40% in patients with moderate hepatic impairment-the GMR and 90% CI were 1.37 (1.09, 1.72) and 1.44 (1.18, 1.75), respectively. The metabolic ratios of M7 and M8 were lower in patients with moderate hepatic impairment than in matched healthy controls. Evogliptin was well tolerated by both patients and healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

Although evogliptin exposure was increased in patients with moderate hepatic impairment, the increase is unlikely to affect safety and efficacy adversely, and no dose adjustment is warranted.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Interactions Between Evogliptin and Glimepiride in Healthy Male Subjects

Purpose

Evogliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, and glimepiride, a sulfonylurea, are used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) interactions between evogliptin and glimepiride.

Materials and Methods

A randomized, open-label, 3-period, 3-treatment, 2-sequence crossover study was conducted in healthy male subjects. During each period, subjects received multiple doses of evogliptin 5 mg alone (EVO), glimepiride 4 mg alone (GLI), or a combination of the two (EVO+GLI). Serial blood and urine samples were collected 168 and 24 h post dosing, respectively, for PK and PD analyses.

Results

Thirty-four subjects completed the study. The co-administration of evogliptin and glimepiride did not alter their plasma and urine PK profiles. For evogliptin, the geometric mean ratio (GMR) (90% confidence intervals) for the maximum plasma concentrations at steady-state (C_max,ss) and the area under the curve during dosing interval at steady-state (AUC_τ,ss) of EVO+GLI to E were 1.02 (0.98-1.06) and 0.97 (0.95-1.00), respectively. For glimepiride, the corresponding values of EVO+GLI to GLI were 1.08 (1.01-1.17) and 1.08 (1.02-1.14), respectively. All values were within the regulatory bioequivalence criteria of 0.8-1.25. Glucose excursion decreased with the co-administration of evogliptin and glimepiride compared with that observed with the evogliptin or glimepiride monotherapy.

Conclusion

Evogliptin and glimepiride had no PK interactions when co-administered, while the combination therapy showed an additive glucose-lowering effect compared to those of evogliptin or glimepiride monotherapy.

Efficacy and Safety of Novel Dipeptidyl-Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Evogliptin in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis

AIMS

No meta-analysis is available which has summarized and holistically analyzed the efficacy and safety of evogliptin. We undertook this meta-analysis to address this gap in knowledge.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched for RCTs involving diabetes patients receiving evogliptin in intervention arm and placebo/active comparator in control arm. Primary outcome was to evaluate changes in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate alterations in fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, lipids, insulin resistance, patients achieving glycemic targets of HbA1c <7% and <6.5%, and adverse events.

RESULTS

From initially screened 57 articles, data from six RCTs involving 887 patients was analyzed [three having sitagliptin/linagliptin as active comparator; three having placebo in control group]. Evogliptin was noninferior to sitagliptin/linagliptin regarding HbA1c reduction at 12 weeks [mean difference (MD) -0.06%; 95%CI: -0.23-0.11%; P = 0.48] and 24 weeks (MD 0.04%; 95%CI: -0.11-0.19%; P = 0.60) follow-up. Evogliptin was superior to placebo regarding HbA1c reduction at 12-weeks (MD -0.57%; 95%CI: -0.62- -0.52%; P < 0.001) and 24 weeks (MD -0.28%; 95%CI: -0.47 - -0.09%; P = 0.004). Evogliptin was noninferior to sitagliptin/linagliptin regarding patients achieving HbA1c <7% and <6.5% at 12 weeks and 24 weeks follow-up. Total adverse events [Risk ratio (RR) 0.98; 95% CI: 0.72-1.32; P = 0.89] and severe adverse events (RR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.25-1.67; P = 0.37) were not significantly different among groups. Patients receiving evogliptin did not have increased symptomatic (RR 0.46; 95% CI: 0.10-2.16; P = 0.32) and asymptomatic (RR 1.09; 95% CI: 0.61-1.97; P = 0.77) hypoglycaemia.

CONCLUSION

Evogliptin is well tolerated and has good glycemic efficacy over 6 months use for T2DM management.

Mechanisms of action of metformin with special reference to cardiovascular protection

Management guidelines continue to identify metformin as initial pharmacologic antidiabetic therapy of choice for people with type 2 diabetes without contraindications, despite recent randomized trials that have demonstrated significant improvements in cardiovascular outcomes with newer classes of antidiabetic therapies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of metformin's therapeutic actions on blood glucose and cardiovascular clinical evidence and to consider the mechanisms that underlie them. The effects of metformin on glycaemia occur mainly in the liver, but metformin-stimulated glucose disposal by the gut has emerged as an increasingly import site of action of metformin. Additionally, metformin induces increased secretion of GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells. Clinical cardiovascular protection with metformin is supported by three randomized outcomes trials (in newly diagnosed and late stage insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients) and a wealth of observational data. Initial evidence suggests that cotreatment with metformin may enhance the impact of newer incretin-based therapies on cardiovascular outcomes, an important observation as metformin can be combined with any other antidiabetic agent. Multiple potential mechanisms support the concept of cardiovascular protection with metformin beyond those provided by reduced blood glucose, including weight loss, improvements in haemostatic function, reduced inflammation, and oxidative stress, and inhibition of key steps in the process of atherosclerosis. Accordingly, metformin remains well placed to support improvements in cardiovascular outcomes, from diagnosis and throughout the course of type 2 diabetes, even in this new age of improved outcomes in type 2 diabetes.

Absorption, metabolism, and excretion of [14C]evogliptin tartrate in male rats and dogs

The objective of this study was to determine the absorption, excretion, and metabolism of a novel, oral antihyperglycemic drug, evogliptin, in male rats and dogs. Plasma, urine, feces, and expired air samples were collected after a single oral dose administration of [¹⁴C]evogliptin, samples were analyzed by measuring overall radioactivity levels using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and radioactivity levels were measured by utilizing LC-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The total amounts of radioactivity excreted in urine, feces, and expired air up to 168 h after administration of [¹⁴C]evogliptin tartrate to rats (30 mg evogliptin/kg) and dogs (10 mg evogliptin/kg) were 96.7% and 96.8% of initial doses administered, respectively. The extent of urinary and fecal excretion in the rat up to 168 h constituted 29.7% and 66.5% of the given dose, respectively; and in dog was 43.3% and 53.5%, respectively. A total of 23 possible metabolites were detected with radiochromatograms of plasma, urinary, and fecal samples, but only the structures of 12 metabolites were identified via LC-MS/MS analysis. Evogliptin was the major component. Regarding the total radiochromatographic peak areas, peaks 9 (evogliptin acid) and 11 (hydroxyevogliptin) were the major metabolites in rats, and peaks 8 [4(S)-hydroxyevogliptin glucuronide], 15 [4(S)-hydroxyevogliptin], and 17 [4(R)-hydroxyevogliptin] were the predominant metabolites in dogs. Data demonstrated that evogliptin was the major component excreted in urine and feces of rats and dogs, but the metabolite profiles varied between species.

Plasma concentration of metformin and dexamethasone after administration through Osseogate

BACKGROUND

Osseogate is a novel drug delivery route through bone marrow involving a modified implant used as the drug delivery system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of individual drug physicochemical characteristics on the pharmacokinetic behavior when using the Osseogate as administration route.

METHODS

Implant-mediated drug delivery systems (IMDDS) were installed in a total of 18 rabbits. After complete healing, water-soluble metformin hydrochloride was administered to one group (n = 9) while poorly soluble dexamethasone was administered to the other group (n = 9). The release patterns of each group were monitored for two weeks by measuring the plasma concentration of each drug.

RESULTS

Both groups showed relative sustained release. However, metformin hydrochloride showed more rapid diffusion and early termination of drug release compared with dexamethasone.

CONCLUSIONS

The physicochemical properties of drugs significantly affected the release pattern through Osseogate. Further research is required to achieve controlled delivery using this route.

Effects of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, evogliptin (DA-1229)

Evogliptin is a novel potent and selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics of evogliptin in participants with renal impairment (RI). An open-label, parallel-group clinical study was conducted in participants with mild, moderate and severe RI and in matched participants with normal renal function (NRF). A single oral 5-mg dose of evogliptin was administered and serial blood and urine samples were obtained to assess the PK and PD characteristics of evogliptin. Baseline urine samples were collected to evaluate endogenous CYP3A metabolic markers. The plasma exposure to evogliptin and degree of DPP-4 activity inhibition increased with decreasing renal function. The mean areas under the concentration-time curves from 0 to 120 hours were increased 1.2-, 1.8- and 1.98-fold in the mild, moderate and severe RI groups, respectively, compared with the NRF group. The levels of CYP3A metabolic markers were lower in the RI group than in the NRF group. The increase in the plasma concentration of evogliptin is unlikely to result in changes in its efficacy or safety, considering the results of previous clinical studies.