Literature Review: Saxagliptin

Diabetes currently affects 29.1 million people in the United States, translating to 9.3% of the US population. If this trend continues, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is likely to rise dramatically. The majority of adults diagnosed have type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The economic burden of diabetes is also staggering. A study conducted by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) found that the cost of diabetes in America exceeded $322 billion in excess medical costs and lost productivity in 2012. [Diabetes Care. 2014;37(12):3172-3179].

Treatment of type 2 diabetes is directed at lowering glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), while taking into consideration the patient’s profile and risk of adverse events (AEs) and complications. One class of antihyperglyemic medications for glucose control is dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Saxagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor that is FDA-approved for adult patients with type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control. The safety and efficacy of saxagliptin have been evaluated as a monotherapy and as an add-on therapy in a range of patient populations. For this literature review, First Report Managed Care identified 3 studies focusing on saxagliptin in combination with statins, taken by older adults, and the benefit–risk profile for AEs and events of special interest.