Glyxera

GLYXERA 50 mg: Beige colored, round, biconvex film-coated tablet, engraved with 'BPL' on one side and '039' on the other side.
GLYXERA 100 mg: Beige colored, round, biconvex film-coated tablet, engraved with 'BPL' on one side and '040' on the other side.
Each film coated tablet contains: Sitagliptin (as phosphate) 50 mg or Sitagliptin (as phosphate) 100 mg.

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP-4) Inhibitor.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of action: Sitagliptin (Glyxera) is a member of a class of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The improvement in glycemic control observed with this medicinal product may be mediated by enhancing the levels of active incretin hormones. Incretin hormones, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), are released by the intestine throughout the day, and levels are increased in response to a meal. The incretins are part of an endogenous system involved in physiologic regulation of glucose homeostasis. When blood glucose concentrations are normal or elevated, GLP-1 and GIP increase insulin synthesis and release from pancreatic beta cells by intracellular signaling pathways involving cyclic AMP. Treatment with GLP-1 or with DPP-4 inhibitors in animal models of type 2 diabetes has been demonstrated to improve beta cell responsiveness to glucose and stimulate insulin biosynthesis and release. With higher insulin levels, tissue glucose uptake is enhanced. In addition, GLP-1 lowers glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells. Decreased glucagon concentrations, along with higher insulin levels, lead to reduced hepatic glucose production, resulting in a decrease in blood glucose levels. The effects of GLP-1 and GIP are glucose dependent such that when blood glucose concentrations are low, stimulation of insulin release and suppression of glucagon secretion by GLP-1 are not observed. For both GLP-1 and GIP, stimulation of insulin release is enhanced as glucose rises above normal concentrations. Further, GLP-1 does not impair the normal glucagon response to hypoglycemia. The activity of GLP-1 and GIP is limited by the DPP-4 enzyme, which rapidly hydrolyzes the incretin hormones to product inactive products. Sitagliptin prevents the hydrolysis of incretin hormones by DPP-4, thereby increasing plasma concentrations of the active forms of GLP-1 and GIP. By enhancing active incretin levels, sitagliptin increases insulin release and decreases glucagon levels in a glucose-dependent manner. In patients with type 2 diabetes with hyperglycemia, these changes in insulin and glucagon levels lead to lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and lower fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations. The glucose-dependent mechanism of sitagliptin is distinct from the mechanism of sulfonylureas, which increase insulin secretion even when glucose levels are low and can lead to hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes and in normal subjects. Sitagliptin is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of the enzyme DPP-4 and does not inhibit closely related enzymes DPP-8 or DPP-9 at therapeutic concentrations. In a two-day study in healthy subjects, sitagliptin alone increased active GLP-1 concentrations, whereas metformin alone increased active and total GLP-1 concentrations to similar extents. Co-administration of sitagliptin and metformin had an additive effect on active GLP-1 concentrations. Sitagliptin, but not metformin, increased active GIP concentrations.
Clinical efficacy and safety: Overall, Sitagliptin (Glyxera) improved glycemic control when used as monotherapy or in combination treatment (see Table 1).
Two studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin monotherapy. Treatment with sitagliptin at 100 mg once daily as monotherapy provided significant improvements in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-hour post-prandial glucose (2-hour PPG), compared to placebo in two studies, one of 18- and one of 24-weeks duration. Improvement of surrogate markers of beta cell function, including HOMA-β (Homeostasis Model Assessment-β), proinsulin to insulin ratio, and measures of beta cell responsiveness from the frequently sampled meal to tolerance test were observed. The observed incidence of hypoglycemia in patients treated with sitagliptin was similar to placebo. Body weight did not increase from baseline with sitagliptin therapy in either study, compared to a small reduction in patients given placebo.
Sitagliptin 100 mg once daily provided significant improvements in glycemic parameters compared with placebo in two 24-week studies of sitagliptin as add-on therapy, one in combination with metformin and one in combination with pioglitazone. Change from baseline in body weight was similar for patients treated with sitagliptin relative to placebo. In these studies, there was a similar incidence of hypoglycemia reported for patients treated with sitagliptin or placebo.
A 24-week placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin (100 mg once daily) added to glimepiride alone or glimepiride in combination with metformin. The addition of sitagliptin to either glimepiride alone or to glimepiride and metformin provided significant improvements in glycemic parameters. Patients treated with sitagliptin had a modest increase in body weight compared to those given placebo.
A 26-week placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin (100 mg once daily) added to the combination of pioglitazone and metformin. The addition of sitagliptin to pioglitazone and metformin provided significant improvements in glycemic parameters. Change from baseline in body weight for patients treated with sitagliptin relative to placebo. The incidence of hypoglycemia was also similar in patients treated with sitagliptin or placebo.
A 24-week placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin (100 mg once daily) added to insulin (at a stable dose for at least 10 weeks) with or without metformin (at least 1,500 mg). In patients taking pre-mixed insulin, the mean daily dose was 70.9 IU/day. In patients taking non-pre-mixed (intermediate/long-acting) insulin, the mean daily dose was 44.3 IU/day. The addition of sitagliptin to insulin provided significant improvements in glycemic parameters. There was no meaningful change from baseline in body weight in either group.
In a 24-week placebo-controlled factorial study of initial therapy, sitagliptin 50 mg twice daily in combination with metformin (500 mg or 1,000 mg twice daily) provided significant improvements in glycemic parameters compared with either monotherapy. The decrease in body weight with the combination of sitagliptin and metformin was similar to that observed with metformin alone or placebo; there was no change from baseline for patients on sitagliptin alone. The incidence of hypoglycemia was similar across treatment groups. (See Table 1.)

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A 24-week active (metformin)-controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin 100 mg once daily (N=528) compared to metformin (N=522) in patients with inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise and who were not on anti-hyperglycemic therapy (off therapy for at least 4 months). The mean dose of metformin was approximately 1,900 mg per day. The reduction in HbA1c from mean baseline values of 7.2% was -0.43% for sitagliptin and -0.57% for metformin (Per Protocol Analysis). The overall incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions considered as drug-related in patients treated with sitagliptin was 2.7% compared with 12.6% in patients treated with metformin. The incidence of hypoglycemia was not significantly different between the treatment groups (sitagliptin, 1.3%; metformin, 1.9%). Body weight decreased from baseline in both groups (sitagliptin, -0.6 kg; metformin, -1.9 kg).
In a study comparing the efficacy and safety of the addition of sitagliptin 100 mg once daily or glipizide (a sulfonylurea) in patients with inadequate glycemic control on metformin monotherapy, sitagliptin was similar to glipizide in reducing HbA1c. The mean glipizide dose used in the comparator group was 10 mg per day with approximately 40% of patients requiring a glipizide dose of ≤5 mg/day throughout the study. However, more patients in the sitagliptin group discontinued due to lack of efficacy than in the glipizide group. Patients treated with sitagliptin exhibited a significant mean decrease from baseline in body weight compared to a significant weight gain in patients administered glipizide (-1.5 vs. +1.1 kg). In this study, the proinsulin to insulin ratio, a marker of efficiency of insulin synthesis and release, improved with sitagliptin and deteriorated with glipizide treatment. The incidence of hypoglycemia in the sitagliptin group (4.9%) was significantly lower than that in the glipizide group (32.0%).
A 24-week placebo-controlled study involving 660 patients was designed to evaluate the insulin-sparing efficacy and safety of sitagliptin (100 mg once daily) added to insulin glargine with or without metformin (at least 1,500 mg) during intensification of insulin therapy. Baseline HbA1c was 8.74% and baseline insulin dose was 37 IU/day. Patients were instructed to titrate their insulin glargine dose based on fingerstick fasting glucose values. At Week 24, the increase in daily insulin dose was 19 IU/day in patients treated with sitagliptin and 24 IU/day in patients treated with placebo. The reduction in HbA1c in patients treated with sitagliptin and insulin (with or without metformin) was -1.31% compared to -0.87% in patients treated with placebo and insulin (with or without metformin), a difference of -0.45% [95% Cl: -0.60, -0.29]. The incidence of hypoglycemia was 25.2% in patients treated with sitagliptin and insulin (with or without metformin) and 36.8% in patients treated with placebo and insulin (with or without metformin). The difference was mainly due to a higher percentage of patients in the placebo group experiencing 3 or more episodes of hypoglycemia (9.4% vs. 19.1%). There was no difference in the incidence of severe hypoglycemia.
A study comparing sitagliptin at 25 or 50 mg once daily to glipizide at 2.5 to 20 mg/day was conducted in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment. This study involved 423 patients with chronic renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate <50 mL/min). After 54 weeks, the mean reduction from baseline in HbA1c was -0.76% with sitagliptin and -0.64% with glipizide (Per Protocol Analysis). In this study, the efficacy and safety profile of sitagliptin at 25 or 50 mg once daily was generally similar to that observed in other monotherapy studies in patients with normal renal function. The incidence of hypoglycemia in the sitagliptin group (6.2%) was significantly lower than that in the glipizide group (17.0%). There was also a significant difference between groups with respect to change from baseline body weight (sitagliptin -0.6 kg; glipizide +1.2 kg).
Another study comparing sitagliptin at 25 mg once daily to glipizide at 2.5 to 20 mg/day was conducted in 129 patients with ESRD who were on dialysis. After 54 weeks, the mean reduction from baseline in HbA1c was -0.72% with sitagliptin and -0.87% with glipizide. In this study, the efficacy and safety profile of sitagliptin at 25 mg once daily was generally similar to that observed in other monotherapy studies in patients with normal renal function. The incidence of hypoglycemia was not significantly different between the treatment groups (sitagliptin, 6.3%; glipizide, 10.8%).
In another study involving 91 patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic renal impairment (creatinine clearance <50 mL/min), the safety and tolerability of treatment with sitagliptin at 25 or 50 mg once daily were generally similar to placebo. In addition, after 12 weeks, the mean reductions in HbA1c (sitagliptin -0.59%; placebo -0.18%) and FPG (sitagliptin -25.5 mg/dL; placebo -3.0 mg/dL) were generally similar to those observed in other monotherapy studies in patients with normal renal function (see Pharmacokinetics).
The TECOS was a randomized study in 14,671 patients in the intention-to-treat population with an HbA1c of 6.5 to 8.0% with established CV disease who received sitagliptin (7,332) 100 mg daily (or 50 mg daily if the baseline eGFR was ≥30 and <50 mL/min/1.73 m²) or placebo (7,339) added to usual care targeting regional standards for HbA1c and CV risk factors. Patients with an eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m² were not to be enrolled in the study. The study population included 2,004 patients ≥75 years of age and 3,324 patients with renal impairment (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²). Over the course of the study, the overall estimated mean (SD) difference in HbA1c between the sitagliptin and placebo groups was 0.29% (0.01), 95% Cl (-0.32, -0.27); p <0.001.
The primary cardiovascular endpoint was a composite of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Secondary cardiovascular endpoints included the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke; first occurrence of the individual components of the primary composite; all-cause mortality; and hospital admissions for congestive heart failure.
After a median follow up of 3 years, sitagliptin, when added to usual care, did not increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events or the risk of hospitalization for heart failure compared to usual care without sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes. (See Table 2.)

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Pediatric population: The European Medicines Agency has deferred the obligation to submit the results of studies with Sitagliptin in one or more subsets of the pediatric population in type 2 diabetes mellitus (see Dosage & Administration for information on pediatric use).
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Following oral administration of a 100-mg dose to healthy subjects, Sitagliptin was rapidly absorbed, with peak plasma concentrations (median T_max) occurring 1 to 4 hours post-dose, mean plasma AUC of sitagliptin was 8.52 μM·hr, C_max was 950 nM. The absolute bioavailability of sitagliptin is approximately 87%. Since co-administration of a high-fat meal with sitagliptin had no effect on the pharmacokinetics, sitagliptin may be administered with or without food. Plasma AUC of sitagliptin increased in a dose-proportional manner. Dose-proportionality was not established for C_max and C_24hr (C_max increased in a greater than dose-proportional manner and C_24hr increased in a less than dose-proportional manner).
Distribution: Mean volume of distribution at steady state following a single 100-mg intravenous dose of sitagliptin to healthy subjects is approximately 198 liters. The fraction of sitagliptin reversibly bound to plasma proteins is low (38%).
Biotransformation: Sitagliptin is primarily eliminated unchanged in urine, and metabolism is a minor pathway. Approximately 79% of sitagliptin is excreted unchanged in the urine. Following a [¹⁴C] sitagliptin oral dose, approximately 16% of the radioactivity was excreted as metabolites of sitagliptin. Six metabolites were detected at trace levels and are not expected to contribute to the plasma DPP-4 inhibitory activity of sitagliptin. In vitro studies indicated that the primary enzyme responsible for the metabolism of sitagliptin was CYP3A4, with contribution from CYP2C8.
In vitro data showed that sitagliptin is not an inhibitor of CYP isozymes CYP3A4, 2C8, 3C9, 2D6, 1A2, 2C19, or 2B6, and is not an inducer of CYP3A4 and CPY1A2.
Elimination: Following administration of an oral [¹⁴C] sitagliptin dose to healthy subjects, approximately 100% of the administered radioactivity was eliminated in feces (13%) or urine (87%) within one week of dosing. The apparent terminal t_1/2 following a 100-mg oral dose of sitagliptin was approximately 12.4 hours. Sitagliptin accumulates only minimally with multiple doses. The renal clearance was approximately 350 mL/min.
Elimination of sitagliptin occurs primarily via renal excretion and involves active tubular secretion. Sitagliptin is a substrate for human organic anion transporter-3 (hOAT-3), which may be involved in the renal elimination of sitagliptin. The clinical relevance of hOAT-3 in sitagliptin transport has not been established. Sitagliptin is also a substrate of p-glycoprotein, which may also be involved in mediating the renal elimination of sitagliptin. However, ciclosporin, a p-glycoprotein inhibitor, did not reduce the renal clearance of sitagliptin. Sitagliptin is not a substrate for OCT2 or OAT1 or PEPT1/2 transporters. In vitro, sitagliptin did not inhibit OAT3 (IC50=160 μM) or p-glycoprotein (up to 250 μM) mediated transport at therapeutically relevant plasma concentrations.
In a clinical study sitagliptin had a small effect on plasma digoxin concentrations indicating that sitagliptin may be a mild inhibitor of p-glycoprotein.
Characteristics in patients: The pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin were generally similar in healthy subjects and in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Renal impairment: A single-dose, open-label study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a reduced dose of sitagliptin (50 mg) in patients with varying degrees of chronic renal impairment compared to normal healthy control subjects. The study included patients with mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment, as well as patients with ESRD on hemodialysis. In addition, the effects of renal impairment on sitagliptin pharmacokinetics in patients with type 2 diabetes and mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment (including ESRD) were assessed using population pharmacokinetic analysis.
Compared to normal healthy control subjects, plasma AUC of sitagliptin was increased by approximately 1.2-fold and 1.6-fold in patients with mild renal impairment (GFR ≥60 to <90 mL/min) and patients with moderate renal impairment (GFR ≥45 to <60 mL/min), respectively. Because increases of this magnitude are not clinically relevant, dosage adjustment in these patients is not necessary.
Plasma AUC of sitagliptin was increased approximately 2-fold in patients with moderate renal impairment (GFR ≥30 to <45 mL/min), and approximately 4-fold in patients with severe renal impairment (GFR <30 mL/min), including in patients with ESRD on hemodialysis. Sitagliptin was modestly removed by hemodialysis (13.5% over a 3- to 4-hour hemodialysis session starting 4 hours post-dose). To achieve plasma concentrations of sitagliptin similar to those in patients with normal renal function, lower dosages are recommended in patients with GFR <45 mL/min (see Dosage & Administration).
Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment for Sitagliptin is necessary for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score ≤9). There is no clinical experience in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score >9). However, because sitagliptin is primarily renally eliminated, severe hepatic impairment is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin.
Elderly: No dose adjustment is required based on age. Age did not have a clinically meaningful impact on the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin based on a population pharmacokinetic analysis of Phase I and Phase II data. Elderly subjects (65 to 80 years) had approximately 19% higher plasma concentrations of sitagliptin compared to younger subjects.
Pediatric: No studies with Sitagliptin have been performed in pediatric patients.
Other patient characteristics: No dose adjustment is necessary based on gender, race, or body mass index (BMI). These characteristics had no clinically meaningful effect on the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin based on a composite analysis of Phase I pharmacokinetic data and on a population pharmacokinetic analysis of Phase I and Phase II data.
Toxicology: Preclinical Safety Data: Renal and liver toxicity were observed in rodents at systemic exposure values 58 times the human exposure level, while the no-effect level was found at 19 times the human exposure level. Incisor teeth abnormalities were observed in rats at exposure levels 67 times the clinical exposure level; the no-effect level for this finding was 58-fold based on the 14-week rat study. The relevance of these findings for humans is unknown. Transient treatment-related physical signs, some of which suggest neural toxicity, such as open mouth breathing, salivation, white foamy emesis, ataxia, trembling, decreased activity, and/or hunched posture were observed in dogs at exposure levels approximately 23 times the clinical exposure level. In addition, very slight to slight skeletal muscle degeneration was also observed histologically at doses resulting in systemic exposure levels of approximately 23 times the human exposure level. A no-effect level for these findings was found at an exposure 6-fold the clinical exposure level.
Sitagliptin has not been demonstrated to be genotoxic in preclinical studies. Sitagliptin was not carcinogenic in mice. In rats, there was an increased incidence of hepatic adenomas and carcinomas at systemic exposure levels 58 times the human exposure level. Since hepatotoxicity has been shown to correlate with induction of hepatic neoplasia in rats, this increased incidence of hepatic tumors in rats was likely secondary to chronic hepatic toxicity at this high dose. Because of the high safety margin (19-fold at this no-effect level), these neoplastic changes are not considered relevant for the situation in humans.
No adverse effects upon fertility were observed in male and female rats given sitagliptin prior to and throughout mating.
In a pre-/postnatal development study performed in rats sitagliptin showed no adverse effects.
Reproductive toxicity studies showed a slight treatment-related increased incidence of fetal rib malformations (absent, hypoplastic and wavy ribs) in the offspring of rats at systemic exposure levels more than 29 times the human exposure levels. Maternal toxicity was seen in rabbits at more than 29 times the human exposure levels. Because of the high safety margins, these findings do not suggest a relevant risk for human reproduction. Sitagliptin is secreted in considerable amounts into the milk of lactating rats (milk/plasma ratio: 4:1).

For adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, Sitagliptin (Glyxera) is indicated to improve glycemic control: As monotherapy: In patients inadequately controlled by diet and exercise alone and for whom metformin is inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance.
As dual oral therapy in combination with: Metformin when diet and exercise plus metformin alone do not provide an adequate glycemic control.
A sulfonylurea when diet and exercise plus maximal tolerated dose of a sulfonylurea alone do not provide adequate glycemic control and when metformin is inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance.
A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist (i.e. a thiazolidinedione) when use of a PPARγ agonist is appropriate and when diet and exercise plus the PPARγ agonist alone do not provide adequate glycemic control.
As triple oral therapy in combination with: A sulfonylurea and metformin when diet and exercise plus dual therapy with these medicinal products do not provide adequate glycemic control.
A PPARγ agonist and metformin when use of a PPARγ agonist is appropriate and when diet and exercise plus dual therapy with these medicinal products do not provide adequate glycemic control.
Sitagliptin (Glyxera) is also indicated as add-on to insulin (with or without metformin) when diet and exercise plus stable dose of insulin do not provide adequate glycemic control.

Method of administration: For oral use. Sitagliptin (Glyxera) can be taken with or without food. Or as prescribed by the physician.
Posology: The dose is 100 mg Sitagliptin once daily. When used in combination with metformin and/or a PPARγ agonist, the dose of metformin and/or PPARγ agonist should be maintained, and Sitagliptin administered concomitantly.
When Sitagliptin is used in combination with a sulfonylurea or with insulin, a lower dose of the sulfonylurea or insulin may be considered to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia (see Precautions).
If a dose of Sitagliptin is missed, it should be taken as soon as the patient remembers. A double dose should not be taken on the same day.
Special populations: Renal impairment: When considering the use of sitagliptin in combination with another anti-diabetic medicinal product, its conditions for use in patients with renal impairment should be checked.
For patients with mild renal impairment (GFR ≥60 to <90 mL/min), no dose adjustment is required.
For patients with moderate renal impairment (GFR ≥45 to <60 mL/min), no dosage adjustment is required.
For patients with moderate renal impairment (GFR ≥30 to <45 mL/min), the dose of Sitagliptin is 50 mg once daily.
For patients with severe renal impairment (GFR ≥15 to <30 mL/min) or with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (GFR <15 mL/min), including those requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, the dose of Sitagliptin is 25 mg once daily. Treatment may be administered without regard to the timing of dialysis.
Because there is a dosage adjustment based upon renal function, assessment of renal function is recommended prior to initiation of Sitagliptin and periodically thereafter.
Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. Sitagliptin has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment and care should be exercised (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
However, because sitagliptin is primarily renally eliminated, severe hepatic impairment is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin.
Elderly: No dose adjustment is necessary based on age.
Pediatric population: The safety and efficacy of sitagliptin in children and adolescents under 18 years of age have not yet been established. No data are available.

During controlled clinical trials in healthy subjects, single doses of up to 800 mg sitagliptin were administered. Minimal increases in QTc, not considered to be clinically relevant, were observed in one study at a dose of 800 mg sitagliptin. There is no experience with doses above 800 mg in clinical studies. In Phase I multiple-dose studies, there were no dose-related clinical adverse reactions observed with sitagliptin with doses of up to 600 mg per day for periods of up to 10 days and 400 mg per day for periods of up to 28 days.
In the event of an overdose, it is reasonable to employ the usual supportive measures, e.g., remove unabsorbed material from the gastrointestinal tract, employ clinical monitoring (including obtaining an electrocardiogram), and institute supportive therapy if required.
Sitagliptin is modestly dialysable. In clinical studies, approximately 13.5% of the dose was removed over a 3- to 4-hour hemodialysis session. Prolonged hemodialysis may be considered if clinically appropriate. It is not known if sitagliptin is dialysable by peritoneal dialysis.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients (see Precautions and Adverse Reactions).

General: Sitagliptin (Glyxera) should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Acute pancreatitis: Use of DPP-4 inhibitors has been associated with a risk of developing acute pancreatitis. Patients should be informed of the characteristic symptom of acute pancreatitis: persistent, severe abdominal pain. Resolution of pancreatitis has been observed after discontinuation of sitagliptin (with or without supportive treatment), but very rare cases of necrotizing or hemorrhagic pancreatitis and/or death have been reported. If pancreatitis is suspected, Sitagliptin and other potentially suspect medicinal products should be discontinued; if acute pancreatitis is confirmed, Sitagliptin should not be restarted. Caution should be exercised in patients with a history of pancreatitis.
Hypoglycemia when used in combination with other anti-hyperglycemic medicinal products: In clinical trials of Sitagliptin as monotherapy and as part of combination therapy with medicinal products not known to cause hypoglycemia (i.e. metformin and/or a PPARγ agonist), rates of hypoglycemia reported with sitagliptin were similar to rates in patients taking placebo. Hypoglycemia has been observed when sitagliptin was used in combination with insulin or a sulfonylurea. Therefore, to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, a lower dose of sulfonylurea or insulin may be considered (see Dosage & Administration).
Hypersensitivity reactions: Post-marketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with sitagliptin have been reported. These reactions include anaphylaxis, angioedema, and exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Onset of these reactions occurred within the first 3 months after initiation of treatment, with some reports occurring after the first dose. If a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, Sitagliptin should be discontinued. Other potential causes for the event should be assessed, and alternative treatment for diabetes initiated.
Bullous pemphigoid: There have been post-marketing reports of bullous pemphigoid in patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors including sitagliptin. If bullous pemphigoid is suspected, Sitagliptin should be discontinued.
Effects on Ability to Drive or Use Machines: Sitagliptin (Glyxera) has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, when driving or using machines, it should be taken into account that dizziness and somnolence have been reported.
In addition, patients should be alerted to the risk of hypoglycemia when sitagliptin is used in combination with a sulfonylurea or with insulin.
Renal impairment: Sitagliptin is renally excreted. To achieve plasma concentrations of sitagliptin similar to those in patients with normal renal function, lower dosages are recommended in patients with GFR <45 mL/min, as well as in ESRD patients requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (see Dosage & Administration and Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
When considering the use of sitagliptin in combination with another anti-diabetic medicinal product, its conditions for use in patients with renal impairment should be checked.

Pregnancy: There are no adequate data from the use of sitagliptin in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity at high doses (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical Safety Data under Actions). The potential risk for humans is unknown. Due to lack of human data, Sitagliptin (Glyxera) should not be used during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding: It is unknown whether sitagliptin is excreted in human breast milk. Animal studies have shown excretion of sitagliptin in breast milk. Sitagliptin (Glyxera) should not be used during breast-feeding.
Fertility: Animal data do not suggest an effect of treatment with sitagliptin on male and female fertility. Human data are lacking.

Summary of the safety profile: Serious adverse reactions including pancreatitis and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported.
Hypoglycemia has been reported in combination with sulfonylurea (4.7%-13.8%) and insulin (9.6%) (see Precautions).
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: Adverse reactions are listed as follows (Table 3) by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). (See Table 3.)

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Description of selected adverse reactions: In addition to the drug-related adverse experiences described previously, adverse experiences reported regardless of causal relationship to medication and occurring in at least 5% and more commonly in patients treated with sitagliptin included upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis. Additional adverse experiences reported regardless of causal relationship to medication that occurred more frequently in patients treated with sitagliptin (not reaching the 5% level, but occurring with an incidence of >0.5% higher with sitagliptin than that in the control group) included osteoarthritis and pain in extremity.
Some adverse reactions were observed more frequently in studies of combination use of sitagliptin with other anti-diabetic medicinal products than in studies of sitagliptin monotherapy. These included hypoglycemia (frequency very common with the combination of sulfonylurea and metformin), influenza (common with insulin (with or without metformin)), nausea and vomiting (common with metformin), flatulence (common with metformin or pioglitazone), constipation (common with the combination of sulfonylurea and metformin), peripheral oedema (common with pioglitazone or the combination of pioglitazone and metformin), somnolence and diarrhea (uncommon with metformin), and dry mouth (uncommon with insulin (with or without metformin)).
TECOS Cardiovascular Safety Study: The Trial Evaluating Cardiovascular Outcomes with sitagliptin (TECOS) included 7,332 patients treated with sitagliptin, 100 mg daily (or 50 mg daily if the base line eGFR was ≥30 and <50 mL/min/1.73 m²), and 7,339 patients treated with placebo in the intention-to-treat population. Both treatments were added to usual care targeting regional standards for HbA1c and CV risk factors. The overall incidence of serious adverse events in patients receiving sitagliptin was similar to that in patients receiving placebo.
In the intention-to-treat population, among patients who were using insulin and/or a sulfonylurea at base line, the incidence of severe hypoglycemia was 2.7% in sitagliptin-treated patients and 2.5% in placebo-treated patients; among patients who were not using insulin and/or a sulfonylurea at baseline, the incidence of severe hypoglycemia was 1.0% in sitagliptin-treated patients and 0.7% in placebo-treated patients. The incidence of adjudication-confirmed pancreatitis events was 0.3% in sitagliptin-treated patients and 0.2% in placebo-treated patients.
Seek medical attention immediately at the first sign of any adverse drug reaction.

Effects of other medicinal products on sitagliptin: Clinical data described as follows suggest that the risk for clinically meaningful interactions by co-administered medicinal products is low.
In vitro studies indicated that the primary enzyme responsible for the limited metabolism of sitagliptin is CYP3A4, with contribution from CYP2C8. In patients with normal renal function, metabolism, including via CYP3A4, plays only a small role in the clearance of sitagliptin. Metabolism may play a more significant role in the elimination of sitagliptin in the setting of severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). For this reason, it is possible that potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (i.e. ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin) could alter the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin in patients with severe renal impairment or ESRD. The effect of potent CYP3A4 inhibitors in the setting of renal impairment has not been assessed in a clinical study.
In vitro transport studies showed that sitagliptin is a substrate for p-glycoprotein and organic anion transporter-3 (OAT3). OAT3 mediated transport of sitagliptin was inhibited in vitro by probenecid, although the risk of clinically meaningful interactions is considered to be low. Concomitant administration of OAT3 inhibitors has not been evaluated in vivo.
Metformin: Co-administration of multiple twice-daily doses of 1,000 mg metformin with 50 mg sitagliptin did not meaningfully alter the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Ciclosporin: A study was conducted to assess the effect of ciclosporin, a potent inhibitor of p-glycoprotein, on the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin. Co-administration of a single 100 mg oral dose of sitagliptin and a single 600 mg oral dose of ciclosporin increased the AUC and C_max of sitagliptin by approximately 29% and 68%, respectively. These changes in sitagliptin pharmacokinetics were not considered to be clinically meaningful. The renal clearance of sitagliptin was not meaningfully altered. Therefore, meaningful interactions would not be expected with other p-glycoprotein inhibitors.
Effects of sitagliptin on other medicinal products: Digoxin: Sitagliptin had a small effect on plasma digoxin concentrations. Following administration of 0.25 mg digoxin concomitantly with 100 mg of sitagliptin daily for 10 days, the plasma AUC of digoxin was increased on average by 11%, and the plasma C_max on average by 18%. No dose adjustment of digoxin is recommended. However, patients at risk of digoxin toxicity should be monitored for this when sitagliptin and digoxin are administered concomitantly.
In vitro data suggest that sitagliptin does not inhibit nor induce CYP450 isoenzymes. In clinical studies, sitagliptin did not meaningfully alter the pharmacokinetics of metformin, glyburide, simvastatin, rosiglitazone, warfarin, or oral contraceptives, providing in vivo evidence of a low propensity for causing interactions with substrates of CYP3A4, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and organic cationic transporter (OCT). Sitagliptin may be a mild inhibitor of p-glycoprotein in vivo.

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Antidiabetic Agents

A10BH01 - sitagliptin ; Belongs to the class of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Used in the treatment of diabetes.

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