![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Abstract
Introduction: For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is a growing interest in sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a class of glucose-lowering agents that act independently of insulin secretion and insulin action and also have a weight-lowering effect. Empagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor that has been demonstrated to significantly reduce blood glucose levels and is well tolerated in patients with T2DM.
Areas covered: Kovacs et al. have reported a randomized, placebo-controlled study of empagliflozin as add-on to pioglitazone or pioglitazone plus metformin in patients with T2DM. The study results are evaluated, and potential impact on clinical practice is considered.
Expert opinion: The addition of empagliflozin to pioglitazone or pioglitazone plus metformin treatment may offer some advantages. Together, their complementary mechanisms of action result in significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin levels, weight, and blood pressure, with a low risk of hypoglycemia, but were associated with an increased risk of events consistent with genital mycotic infections.
Declaration of interest
The author meets criteria for authorship as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). The author received no direct compensation related to the development of the manuscript. Writing support was provided by Daniella A Babu, PhD of Envision Scientific Solutions, which was contracted and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BIPI). BIPI was given the opportunity to review the manuscript for medical and scientific accuracy as well as intellectual property considerations. T Blevins reports clinical research support from Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Sanofi, and Halozyme Therapeutics. He also serves on speaker bureaus for Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Merck, AstraZeneca, and Novo Nordisk, but has not been compensated for the authorship of this review. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.