title: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: Past, present, and future.
abstract: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-based therapy improves glycaemic control through multiple mechanisms, with a low risk of hypoglycaemia and the additional benefit of clinically relevant weight loss. Since Starling and Bayliss first proposed the existence of intestinal secretions that stimulate the pancreas, tremendous progress has been made in the area of incretins. As a number of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) continue to become available, physicians will soon face the challenge of selecting the right option customized to their patient's needs. The following discussion, derived from an extensive literature search using the PubMed database, applying the terms incretin, GLP-1, exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide, semaglutide, and taspoglutide, provides a comprehensive review of existing and upcoming molecules in the GLP-1 RA class in terms of their structure, pharmacological profiles, efficacy, safety, and convenience. Search Methodology: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database, applying the terms incretin, GLP-1, exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide, semaglutide, and taspoglutide. Relevant articles were those that discussed structural, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences, classification, long-acting and short-acting GLP-1 RAs, phase 3 trials, and expert opinions. Additional targeted searches were conducted on diabetes treatment guidelines and reviews on safety, as well as the American Diabetes Association/European Society for Study of Diabetes (ADA/EASD) statement on pancreatic safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.affiliation: Excel Care Hospitals, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Manash P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Baruah
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sahay
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Ambika Gopalakrishnan
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Unnikrishnan
authors.affiliation: Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uppal
authors.affiliation: Eli Lilly and Company, Basingstoke, RG24 9NL, UK.
authors.forename: Omolara
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adetunji
keywords: Beyond glycaemic control; comparison of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists; efficacy; glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists; type 2 diabetes mellitus