Review

SGLT-2 Inhibitors in Development for Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Mithun Bhartia¹, Abd A. Tahrani^2,3, Anthony H. Barnett^3,4

Manuscript submitted August 4, 2011; resubmitted September 27, 2011; accepted September 30, 2011.

Keywords: glucose reabsorption, kidney, renal glucose, SGLT, sodium glucose cotransporter, type 2 diabetes

Abstract

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. The majority of currently available glucose-lowering agents work via insulin-dependent mechanisms and have significant limitations. Hence, there is a need for newer treatments utilizing novel therapeutic targets. Drugs which inhibit the sodium glucose cotransporter in the renal tubules (SGLT-2 inhibitors), represent a novel class of drugs under development. By inhibiting SGLT-2, they promote increased renal glucose excretion and thereby calorie loss with improved glycemic control and weight loss. Dapagliflozin is most advanced in development of this new drug class and currently undergoing phase 3 trials. In addition to its glucose lowering effect, dapagliflozin appears to have favorable impacts on weight and blood pressure, with low risk of hypoglycemia. However, as with all new treatments, long-term safety is an issue. Clinical trials showed increased risk of genital and possibly urinary infections with dapgliflozin. Furthermore, concerns have arisen regarding a possible increased incidence of breast and bladder cancer in patients on dapagliflozin. However, it needs further investigation to confirm or refute whether these concerns are concrete.

Fulltext: HTML , PDF (203KB)

This article has been cited by other articles:

	Ipragliflozin: A novel sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor developed in Japan Ohkura T World J Diabetes 2015. 6(1):136-144
	Sodium-Glucose linked transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors - fighting diabetes from a new perspective Angelopoulos TP, Doupis J Adv Ther 2014. 31(6):579-591
	A review on dapagliflozin for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus Chakraborty I, Mali G, Sharma H, Khera K, Laddha A Int J Pharm Therapeut 2014. 5(5):330-343
	Glycaemic control: a balancing act or a different approach? Fava S Curr Diabetes Rev 2014. 10(2):124-130
	Carcinogenicity risk assessment supports the chronic safety of dapagliflozin, an inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus Reilly TP, Graziano MJ, Janovitz EB, Dorr TE, Fairchild C, Lee F, Chen J, Wong T, Whaley JM, Tirmenstein M Diabetes Ther 2014. 5(1):73-96
	A Review on the Relationship between SGLT2 Inhibitors and Cancer Lin HW, Tseng CH Int J Endocrinol 2014. 2014:719578
	Comprehensive approach to the management of diabetes: offering improved outcomes for diabetics and the healthcare system Perfetti R Diabetes Manag 2013. 3(6):505-528
	Emerging sodium/glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes Boyle LD, Wilding JP Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2013. 18(3):375-391
	The central question of type 2 diabetes Rouquet T, Bonnet MS, Pierre C, Dallaporta M, Troadec JD, Roux J, Bariohay B Pharm Pat Anal 2013. 2(3):399-427
	Diabetes treatments and cancer risk: the importance of considering aspects of drug exposure Walker JJ, Johnson JA, Wild SH Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2013. 1(2):132-139
	The vascular endothelium in diabetes - a therapeutic target? Mather KJ Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2013. 14(1):87-99
	Glycated hemoglobin, diabetes treatment and cancer risk in type 2 diabetes. A case-control study Dabrowski M Ann Agric Environ Med 2013. 20(1):116-121
	What have we learned about the treatment of type 2 diabetes? The evolving paradigms Freeman JS, Horton ES Am J Ther 2012. 19(6):449-464
	Cardiovascular effects of antidiabetic agents: focus on blood pressure effects of incretin-based therapies Brown NJ J Am Soc Hypertens 2012. 6(3):163-168
	The continuing need for drug development and clinical trials in type 2 diabetes and its complications: introduction to the RDS Special Issue Raz I, Gallwitz B Rev Diabet Stud 2011. 8(3):288-292