title: Linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor with a unique pharmacological profile, and efficacy in a broad range of patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing population age, obesity and physical inactivity mean that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly common. Current treatments may be limited by adverse events, drug-drug interactions or contraindication/need for dose adjustment in patients with renal impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper reviews studies that evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy and safety of linagliptin , a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, recently approved in the US, Japan and Europe for the treatment of T2DM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral linagliptin, 5 mg once daily, is an effective, well-tolerated DPP-4 inhibitor, suitable for use in a wide range of patients with T2DM. It is weight-neutral, without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia, and can be administered either alone or in combination with other diabetes treatments. It has a unique pharmacological profile within its class and, unlike other DPP-4 inhibitors, linagliptin does not require dose adjustment in patients with renal impairment.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Research and Development, Mainz, Germany. ThomasF@ikfe.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forst
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfützner
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069476:Linagliptin; D011687:Purines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D011687:Purines; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069476:Linagliptin