New drug, Linagliptin on diabetes

New drug cheer for diabetics

Linagliptin reduces risk of weight gain as well as cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases: Study

Most diabetes patients find it tedious to have to closely monitor the multiple drugs they take to control their condition every day. The introduction of an oral, once a day tablet to treat type-2 diabetes in adults was a welcome alternative for the 50.8 million diabetics in India. Now, a study suggests that this new drug, Linagliptin, has other advantages as well over the older drugs. Baptist Gallwitz, who authored the study published last week in the medical journal, The Lancet, told DNA it was based on tracking about 1,500 patients across the world over a span of two years. “It highlighted the lesser incidences of Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and weight gain, and also the potential for cardiovascular risk reduction in adult type-2 diabetic patients,” said Gallwitz, who is a professor of medicine at Eberhard Karls University, Germany. He added that this was the first study to compare incidences of cardiovascular events between Linagliptin and Glimepiride (Sulphonylurea, which is the first line of treatment for diabetes). “Most patients with type-2 diabetes are prone to excessive weight gain. So diabetes therapies have to target both maintaining glucose levels and weight management. In India, a majority of diabetes patients are at the risk of cardiovascular disorders. Linagliptin does not lead to significant weight gain, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events by 54%,” said Dr Klaus Dugi, who, with Dr Thor Voigt, has been associated with the development of the new drug. According to him, it can also prevent progressive neuropathy that is associated with diabetes. “Current medications meant to tackle diabetes can lead to liver and kidney diseases. Patients need to be closely monitored as impaired liver/renal function needs frequent dose adjustment. The new treatment circumvents this,” he said. However, this drug is not the first line of treatment. “It could help patients who don’t respond to the commonly-used first line of treatment, Metformin and Sulphonylureas,” Dugi said. Endocrinologists in the country have often lamented how taking multiple tablets, not visiting the doctor for follow-ups, not following the prescribed diet, the cost of treatment and non-availability of diabetes medication are the reasons why it rages uncontrolled in India. This new drug comes as a relief as it is easy to use, does not increase blood sugar levels and does not risk kidney disease, said Dr Shashank Joshi, a Mumbai-based endocrinologist. He added that the drug has been available in India for two months and he too has prescribed it to patients. “It is relatively new, so the long term efficacy and safety is yet to be tested and at Rs40-45 a pill, it is too expensive,” he added.