Is exenatide advancing the treatment of type 2 diabetes?
Glucagon-like peptide 1 is an intestinal peptide hormone that is secreted in response to food to regulate the postprandial blood glucose concentration. Exendin-4 is a 39-amino acid peptide that acts as an agonist at the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor. Synthetic exendin-4 (exenatide) has recently been trialled in patients with Type 2 diabetes taking either metformin alone or a combination of metformin and a sulfonylurea. In both trials, exenatide 5 and 10 microg s.c. was shown to improve glycaemic control, with few adverse events. Exenatide represents a new and useful addition to the medicines used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Doggrell
Sheila A
SA
Division of Health Practice, Auckland University of Technology - Akoranga Campus, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand. s_doggrell@yahoo.com
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077270:Exenatide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D014688:Venoms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
C000593833:GLP1R protein, human; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D010455:Peptides; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D014688:Venoms; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000077270:Exenatide