A comparison of efficacy and safety of vildagliptin and gliclazide in combination with metformin in patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin alone: a 52-week, randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate non-inferiority of vildagliptin compared with gliclazide, as an add-on therapy, in patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin in a 52-week, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study.


METHODS
Patients receiving a stable dose of metformin (> or = 1500 mg) were randomized (1 : 1) to receive vildagliptin (50 mg twice daily; n = 513) or gliclazide (up to 320 mg/day; n = 494).


RESULTS
Non-inferiority of vildagliptin was demonstrated (95% confidence interval -0.11%, 0.20%) with a mean change (se) from baseline glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) (approximately 8.5% in both groups) to a 52-week endpoint of -0.81% (0.06) with vildagliptin and -0.85% (0.06) with gliclazide. Although a similar proportion of patients reached HbA(1c) < 7.0%, the total number of hypoglycaemic events was lower in the vildagliptin group (6 vs. 11 events). Vildagliptin was non-inferior (margin 0.6 mmol/l) to gliclazide in reducing fasting plasma glucose (1.31 vs. 1.52 mmol/l, P = 0.257). The overall incidence of any adverse events was similar in both groups (approximately 61%), but the number of serious adverse events was higher in the gliclazide group (8.7 vs. 6.7%). The number of patients who discontinued as a result of an unsatisfactory effect was higher in the vildagliptin group (n = 22 vs. 13, respectively) compared with gliclazide, but vildagliptin did not induce weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin, addition of vildagliptin provided similar HbA(1c)-lowering efficacy compared with gliclazide after 52 weeks of treatment. Although both treatments were well tolerated, vildagliptin-treated patients had fewer hypoglycaemic events and did not gain weight.
Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. claudia.filozof@novartis.com
C
C
Filozof
J-F
JF
Gautier
D000218:Adamantane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005907:Gliclazide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077597:Vildagliptin; D055815:Young Adult
D000218:Adamantane; D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D005907:Gliclazide; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin; D009570:Nitriles; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D000077597:Vildagliptin