Empagliflozin/metformin fixed-dose combination: a review in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Most patients with type 2 diabetes, who receive monotherapy, are unable to maintain glucose levels with the progress of disease. Therefore, combination therapy with two or more anti-diabetic agents of different classes is highly desired. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve glycemic control through increasing urinary glucose excretion, which is independent of β-cell function. In addition, they are generally well tolerated and associated with a low risk of hypoglycaemia. SGLT2 inhibitors as add-on therapy to metformin have an additive effect on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, and fixed-dose tablet is likely to reduce pill burden and then improve patients' adherence. Areas covered: This article reviews empagliflozin/metformin combination therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The clinical efficacy and tolerability of empagliflozin/metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes are discussed based on the available literature. Expert opinion: It was found that empagliflozin/metformin combination therapy could significantly improve glycemic control, body weight and blood pressure with a low risk of hypoglycaemia. In addition, the empagliflozin/metformin fixed-dose tablets, supported by bioequivalence studies, could reduce pill burden to further achieve the improved patients' adherence, better glycemic control and optimized cost-effectiveness.
a College of Pharmaceutical Science , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , China.
Jingbo
J
Hu
b Department of Pharmacy, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College , Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China.
Ping
P
Zou
a College of Pharmaceutical Science , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , China.
Shuo
S
Zhang
a College of Pharmaceutical Science , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , China.
Minzhi
M
Zhou
c Department of Endocrinology , Ningbo University Affiliated Yangming Hospital , Yuyao , China.
Xueying
X
Tan
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005960:Glucosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051297:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005960:Glucosides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D051297:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; D008687:Metformin; C570240:empagliflozin
Empagliflozin; fixed-dose tablet; metformin; sodium glucose co-transporter 2