title: 2-year efficacy and safety of linagliptin compared with glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin: a randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Addition of a sulphonylurea to metformin improves glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, but is associated with hypoglycaemia and weight gain. We aimed to compare a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (linagliptin) against a commonly used sulphonylurea (glimepiride).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this 2-year, parallel-group, non-inferiority double-blind trial, outpatients with type 2 diabetes and glycated haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) 6·5-10·0% on stable metformin alone or with one additional oral antidiabetic drug (washed out during screening) were randomly assigned (1:1) by computer-generated random sequence via a voice or web response system to linagliptin (5 mg) or glimepiride (1-4 mg) orally once daily. Study investigators and participants were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was change in HbA(1c) from baseline to week 104. Analyses included all patients randomly assigned to treatment groups who received at least one dose of treatment, had a baseline HbA(1c) measurement, and had at least one on-treatment HbA(1c) measurement. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00622284.
  
  
  RESULTS
  777 patients were randomly assigned to linagliptin and 775 to glimepiride; 764 and 755 were included in analysis of the primary endpoint. Reductions in adjusted mean HbA(1c) (baseline 7·69% [SE 0·03] in both groups) were similar in the linagliptin (-0·16% [SE 0·03]) and glimepiride groups (-0·36% [0·03]; difference 0·20%, 97·5% CI 0·09-0·30), meeting the predefined non-inferiority criterion of 0·35%. Fewer participants had hypoglycaemia (58 [7%] of 776 vs 280 [36%] of 775 patients, p<0·0001) or severe hypoglycaemia (1 [<1%] vs 12 [2%]) with linagliptin compared with glimepiride. Linagliptin was associated with significantly fewer cardiovascular events (12 vs 26 patients; relative risk 0·46, 95% CI 0·23-0·91, p=0·0213).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this long-term randomised active-controlled trial advance the clinical evidence and comparative effectiveness bases for treatment options available to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The findings could improve decision making for clinical treatment when metformin alone is insufficient.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Boehringer Ingelheim.
authors: Department of Medicine IV, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. baptist.gallwitz@med.unituebingen.de
authors: Baptist
authors: B
authors: Gallwitz
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Rosenstock
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Rauch
authors: Sudipta
authors: S
authors: Bhattacharya
authors: Sanjay
authors: S
authors: Patel
authors: Maximilian
authors: M
authors: von Eynatten
authors: Klaus A
authors: KA
authors: Dugi
authors: Hans-Juergen
authors: HJ
authors: Woerle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069476:Linagliptin; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012107:Research Design; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000069476:Linagliptin; D008687:Metformin; D011687:Purines; D011799:Quinazolines; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human; C057619:glimepiride