Once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitors: do they meet an unmet need?

Oral dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-4) inhibitors are being increasingly used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. They offer the advantages of improved glycaemic control without weight gain and a minimal risk of hypoglycaemic events. 1 Scheen AJ A review of gliptins for 2014. Exp Opin Pharmacother. 2015; 16: 43-62 Crossref PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar Randomised controlled trials have shown their efficacy and safety as monotherapy in patients inadequately treated with diet and exercise; as an add-on to metformin, sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, or insulin; and in various triple therapies. 1 Scheen AJ A review of gliptins for 2014. Exp Opin Pharmacother. 2015; 16: 43-62 Crossref PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar Currently available DPP-4 inhibitors are given once per day (sitagliptin, saxagliptin, alogliptin, and linagliptin), except for vildagliptin, which is given twice per day when patients do not have renal impairment. Once-weekly trelagliptin versus daily alogliptin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised, double-blind, phase 3, non-inferiority studyThe once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitor trelagliptin showed similar efficacy and safety to alogliptin once daily in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Trelagliptin could be a useful new antidiabetes drug that needs to be given once a week. Full-Text PDF