title: Three new drugs for type 2 diabetes.
abstract: For many patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, metformin plus appropriate treatment for cardiovascular risk factors form the cornerstone of drug therapy.1 However, the progressive impairment of both the secretion and action of insulin in the condition mean that high blood glucose concentrations usually worsen over time, so necessitating escalation of hypoglycaemic therapy. Three drugs in two new classes that act on the hormonal regulation of insulin secretion have been launched recently for use as add-in therapies in patients with type 2 diabetes: exenatide (Byetta--Eli Lilly), sitagliptin (Januvia--MSD), and vildagliptin (Galvus--Novartis). Here we consider whether they have a role in the management of such individuals.
mesh_terms: D000218:Adamantane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077270:Exenatide; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054795:Incretins / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014688:Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077597:Vildagliptin
chemical_list: D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D054795:Incretins; D009570:Nitriles; D010455:Peptides; D011719:Pyrazines; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D014230:Triazoles; D014688:Venoms; D000077270:Exenatide; D000077597:Vildagliptin; D000218:Adamantane; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate