Linagliptin Trial Results In

Linagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor currently under clinical development for type 2 diabetes, produced “meaningful” reductions in blood sugar, according to results of a late-stage clinical study. The results of a 24-week, open-label arm of a phase-3 study of the investigational drug linagliptin combined with the generic drug metformin, were announced at the IDF in Dubai. After 24 weeks, the companies said, patients with poorly controlled blood sugar showed HbA1C reductions of 3.7%. Most patients tolerated the drug well, with 9% experiencing adverse side effects and 1.5% reporting hypoglycemia. In another study, patients who could not take metformin were given linagliptin or the generic drug glimepiride in a 34-week extension phase of a one-year trial. HbA1C levels in linagliptin patients remained stable between week 18 and week 52. Glimepiride showed similar levels of efficacy, but linagliptin produced fewer adverse side effects, the companies said. IDF Nov. 201