Fixed-dose combination of ertugliflozin and metformin hydrochloride for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Combining antihyperglycemic agents in order to rapidly and safely achieve the best possible glycemic control is the standard of care today for the management of type 2 diabetes. Agents should ideally have mechanisms of actions that are complementary and that improve glycemic control without unacceptable gain in body weight or hypoglycemia.

Areas covered: Ertugliflozin and metformin hydrochloride (ertugliflozin/metformin, SEGLUROMET) is a recently approved fixed-dose combination tablet containing the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor ertugliflozin and metformin. This review summarizes key characteristics of ertugliflozin and metformin, as well as the efficacy and safety results of co-administration of these agents in the ertugliflozin clinical development program. This information comes from the ertugliflozin/metformin prescribing information as well as published clinical trials obtained through a PubMed search.

Expert commentary: SGLT-2 inhibitors are an important class of antihyperglycemic agents that are efficacious as monotherapy and in combination with other antihyperglycemic agents. Given their favorable effects on glycemia control as well as ‘extra-glycemic’ parameters such as body weight and blood pressure, they are ideal agents for appropriate patients with type 2 diabetes. The fixed-dose combination of ertugliflozin with metformin is an effective combination that is conveniently administered and may improve medication adherence and persistence.

KEYWORDS:

• Type 2 diabetes
• fixed-dose combination
• ertugliflozin
• metformin

Information resources

The reader is encouraged to review important prescribing information as well as the Medication Guide and patient resources at https://www.merckconnect.com/segluromet/overview.html

Declaration of interest

JP Frías conducts clinical research supported by AbbVie, Allergan, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Eli Lilly, Genentech, IONIS, Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, Lexicon, Ligand, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Theracos. JP Frías is a consultant for and on the advisory boards of AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Johnson and Johnson, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi. JP Frías is on the speaker’s bureau for Merck and Sanofi. 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 apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.