Januvia lowers hypoglycemia risk vs glipizide

A new analysis presented at the American Diabetes Association 68th annual scientific sessions showed US drug major Merck & Co's Januvia (sitagliptin) was associated with a 93% lower risk of having a confirmed symptomatic hypoglycemic event on a given day (p=0.001) compared to treatment with glipizide, a sulphonylurea.

This 52-week intent-to-treat analysis was based on 37 events in the sitagliptin group (n=588) and 492 events in the glipizide group (n=584). Both agents were added to ongoing metformin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and were associated with similar reductions in HbA1c (-0.67% in both groups at week 52 confirming non-inferiority in the prespecified per protocol analysis).

Hypoglycemia is a common side effect of some oral diabetes medications. In the 65 years or older age group (sitagliptin, n=120; glipizide, n=123), patients treated with sitagliptin had a 97% (29-fold) lower risk of confirmed hypoglycemia compared to patients treated with glipizide and, in the under 65 years age group (sitagliptin n=468; glipizide, n=461), non-SU patients had a 91% (11-fold) lower risk of confirmed hypoglycemia compared to patients treated with glipizide (p<0.001 for both analyses).