Novel SGLT2 inhibitor cuts HbA1c, plasma glucose, body weight in type 2 diabetes

Ertugliflozin, a novel sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitor, helps reduce glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in patients with type 2 diabetes, reports a recent meta-analysis.

A total of 10 randomized controlled trials, yielding a cumulative sample of 13,223 patients, were retrieved from the online databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase. All studies compared the glycaemic efficacy of various ertugliflozin against placebo or other antidiabetic drugs such as metformin.

Pooled analysis showed that at 5-mg doses, ertugliflozin induced a significantly greater decrease in HbA1c than its comparator (weighted mean difference [WMD], –0.57 percent, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], –0.77 to –0.33). A similar and stronger effect was observed for the 15-mg dose (WMD, –0.61 percent, 95 percent CI, –0.82 to –0.39).

Moreover, both 5-mg (risk ratio [RR], 1.80, 95 percent CI, 1.37–2.37) and 15-mg (RR, 1.75, 95 percent CI, 1.28–2.38) ertugliflozin doses led to a significantly larger proportion of participants achieving the HbA1c target of <7 percent.

Ertugliflozin likewise led to significant reductions in FPG (5 mg: WMD, –1.62 mmol/L, 95 percent CI, –1.82 to –1.42; 15 mg: WMD, –1.91, 95 percent CI, –2.30 to –1.53) and body weight (5 mg: WMD, –2.17 kg, 95 percent CI, –2.73 to –1.61; 15 mg: WMD, –2.38 kg, 95 percent CI, –3.10 to –1.65).

“Considering the limitations of this study, the long-term safety profile of ertugliflozin remains to be elucidated from large clinical trials,” the researchers said.