title: Therapies for diabetes: pramlintide and exenatide.
abstract: The American Diabetes Association currently recommends an A1C goal of less than 7 percent. However, many patients are unable to achieve this goal by using oral drug combinations or diet and exercise, leaving insulin as the only treatment option. In most cases, insulin is initiated later in therapy because of its inconvenience and adverse effects (e.g., weight gain, hypoglycemia, possible role in atherogenesis). Although insulin effectively helps patients attain glucose goals, the search for new agents continues. Two injectable agents, pramlintide and exenatide, were approved in 2005 for the treatment of diabetes. Pramlintide, indicated for use in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes, is a synthetic analogue of human amylin that acts in conjunction with insulin to delay gastric emptying and inhibit the release of glucagon. Exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetic, has multiple mechanisms for lowering glucose levels, including the enhancement of insulin secretion, and is indicated for use in patients with type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials have shown that both agents reduce, by a statistically significant degree, A1C levels (0.3 to 0.7 percent more than placebo), fasting plasma glucose levels, and body weight (3 to 5 lb [1.4 to 2.3 kg]). No studies have examined their effects on diabetic complications, cardiovascular disease, or overall mortality. Pramlintide and exenatide may help make glycemic goals more attainable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, South University School of Pharmacy, Savannah, Georgia 31406, USA. mjones@southuniversity.edu
authors.forename: Melissa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077270:Exenatide; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014688:Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D000077270:Exenatide; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D010455:Peptides; D014688:Venoms; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human; C105254:pramlintide