Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(1):45-48

Empagliflozin (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor) - the hope for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Murín J

I. interná klinika LFUK a UN Bratislava, Slovenská republika

During the current epidemic of diabetes mellitus there is a great search for new antidiabetic drugs. Clinical studies in recent years have usually been satisfied with the cardiovascular safety of new antidiabetic drugs and have not found a reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Some new antidiabetic drugs contributed to the development of heart failure and this was considered an adverse event. Empagliflozin is in a new class of antidiabetic drugs (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor in kidney) which can improve diabetic compensation by increasing glucosuria. This drug in the clinical trial EMPA-REG OUTCOME has shown us an unbelievably great benefit for type 2 diabetic patients. For the first time in history an antidiabetic drug is able to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Treatment in the trial was safe. It is expected that these results will improve our search for better diabetes treatments.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; cardiovascular events in diabetic patients; sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitor in the kidney

Published: January 1, 2016  Show citation