title: An update in incretin-based therapy: a focus on dipeptidyl peptidase--4 inhibitors.
abstract: Dipeptidyl peptidase -4 inhibitors represent a novel way to augment the incretin system and one of the newest class of medications in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Their mechanism of action is to decrease the inactivation of glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, both of which are involved in maintaining euglycemia subsequent to carbohydrate intake. Currently investigated agents include sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, and alogliptin. Each agent has been shown to provide significant improvements in glycemic control compared to placebo. They are effective when added to other oral diabetes agents and in the cases of sitagliptin, vildagliptin, and alogliptin in addition to insulin. These agents may not provide as significant improvement in glucose concentrations as some other medications including metformin, thiazolidinediones, or glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists. The lack of head to head clinical data comparing the various dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors does not allow for specific recommendations if one agent is more effective or safer than another within the class. Their side effect profile suggests they are very well tolerated and have few drug interactions. For patients with mildly elevated glucose concentrations, they are therapeutic options in both drug-naive patients as well as those not optimally controlled on other diabetes medications.
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Care Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Pharmacy, 3601 4th St. Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. brian.irons@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Irons
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.forename: Megan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.forename: Krystal L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000218:Adamantane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000069476:Linagliptin; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014498:Uracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077597:Vildagliptin
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004151:Dipeptides; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D010880:Piperidines; D011687:Purines; D011719:Pyrazines; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011799:Quinazolines; D014230:Triazoles; D000069476:Linagliptin; D014498:Uracil; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; C502994:saxagliptin; D000077597:Vildagliptin; C520853:alogliptin; D000218:Adamantane; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate