Keith R. Campbell, PharmD, MBA, CDE Distinguished Professor in Diabetes Care and Pharmacotherapy, Department of Pharmacotherapy, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, Pullman, Washington
Michael E. Cobble, MD, FNLA Director, Canyons Medical Center, Sandy, Utah, Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
Timothy S. Reid, MD Department of Family Medicine, Mercy Diabetes Center, Janesville, Wisconsin
Mansur E. Shomali, MD, CM Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Associate Medical Director, Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
References
GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors in combination with agents other than metformin
While metformin is the cornerstone of glucose-lowering therapy, GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors have been investigated as dual therapy in combination with agents other than metformin.49-52
The addition of liraglutide 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg; rosiglitazone 4 mg; or placebo to glimepiride 2 mg to 4 mg was compared in patients with inadequately controlled blood glucose on monotherapy or combination therapy, excluding insulin (N=1041).49 After 26 weeks, the mean A1C level decreased 1.1% with either liraglutide 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg once daily and 0.4% with rosiglitazone 4 mg daily but increased 0.2% with placebo (all, P<.0001). Similarly, the decrease in FPG was significantly greater with liraglutide 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg compared with placebo (treatment difference, 47 mg/dL; P<.0001) and rosiglitazone 4 mg (treatment difference, 13 mg/dL; P<.006). Reductions in PPG were also significantly greater with liraglutide 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg (45 and 49 mg/dL, respectively) than with rosiglitazone 4 mg (32 mg/dL; P≤.043 vs liraglutide 1.2 mg; P=.0022 vs liraglutide 1.8 mg) and placebo (7 mg/dL; P<.0001 for both liraglutide doses).
Two trials have investigated treatment with a DPP-4 inhibitor in combination with a thiazolidinedione. In 1 trial, patients (N=353) were randomized to receive sitagliptin 100 mg once daily or placebo in combination with pioglitazone 30 mg to 45 mg daily.50 After 24 weeks, the mean A1C level decreased 0.9% with the addition of sitagliptin and 0.2% with placebo (P<.001). The FPG level decreased 17 mg/dL in the sitagliptin group and increased 1 mg/dL in the placebo group (P<.001). Similar changes in A1C and FPG levels were observed in another trial involving the addition of saxagliptin 2.5 mg or 5 mg once daily to pioglitazone 30 mg to 45 mg or rosiglitazone 4 mg to 8 mg once daily.51 Reduction in the PPG area under the curve was greater with either dose of saxagliptin than with placebo.
The addition of saxagliptin to a submaximal dose of glyburide was compared with uptitration of glyburide in 768 patients with T2DM.52 Patients were randomized to receive saxagliptin 2.5 mg or 5 mg once daily in combination with glyburide 7.5 mg once daily, or glyburide 10 mg to 15 mg once daily for 24 weeks. The mean A1C level decreased 0.5% and 0.6% in the saxagliptin 2.5 mg and 5 mg groups, respectively, and increased 0.1% in the glyburide uptitration group (P<.0001 vs both saxagliptin groups). The FPG level decreased 7 and 10 mg/dL in the saxagliptin 2.5 mg and 5 mg groups, respectively, and increased 1 mg/dL in the glyburide uptitration group (P=.0218 and P=.002, respectively). Similar changes were observed in PPG (P<.0001).
These trials demonstrate that the efficacy of GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors extend to combined use with agents other than metformin.
Summary
Extensive experience from randomized clinical trials demonstrates the efficacy of GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors as monotherapy and in combination with metformin and other agents, although reductions in FPG and PPG, and consequently A1C, are greater with GLP-1 agonists than with DPP-4 inhibitors. This difference may result from the pharmacologic levels of GLP-1 activity that are achieved with the GLP-1 agonists and their direct action on the GLP-1 receptor. The GLP-1 agonists have attributes that would make either of them an appropriate choice in the management of all 3 patients in our case studies, while either DPP-4 inhibitor would be an appropriate choice for Case 1. Differences in dosing, administration, safety, and tolerability should be considered.
