Peer Reviewed
Drug update
Sitagliptin for the management of type 2 diabetes
Abstract
Sitagliptin is in a new class of oral agents, the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, for improving glycaemia control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Key Points
What is sitagliptin?
Sitagliptin (Januvia) is the latest oral hypoglycaemic agent to become available for type 2 diabetes, and is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). DPP-4 is a ubiquitous enzyme that is found in most body tissues, but it is significant in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes because it degrades protein molecules known as the ‘incretins’, namely the gut-derived glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
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