Safety and tolerability of empagliflozin and linagliptin combination therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a pooled analysis of data from five randomized, controlled clinical trials.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The fixed-dose combination of empagliflozin and linagliptin, two glucose-lowering drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has demonstrated good tolerability in phase III clinical trials. To further evaluate the safety profile of this combination, the data from these trials were pooled and analyzed. METHODS: This was a post-hoc pooled analysis of five randomized, double-blind, clinical trials of the empagliflozin/linagliptin fixed-dose combination. Data for adverse events and laboratory parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: The analysis included 2895 patients 1410, 1015, and 470 receiving the empagliflozin/linagliptin combination, empagliflozin monotherapy, and linagliptin monotherapy, respectively. Overall, the incidence of adverse events with the empagliflozin/linagliptin combination was similar to that with empagliflozin or linagliptin alone. Fewer than 2% of patients experienced hypoglycemia, and its incidence was similar across treatment groups. Genital infections occurred in more patients receiving empagliflozin/linagliptin (3.0%) or empagliflozin monotherapy (5.1%) than in those receiving linagliptin monotherapy (1.9%). No cases of Fournier's gangrene, diabetic ketoacidosis, or pemphigoid occurred, and no clinically relevant mean changes in laboratory parameters were noted. CONCLUSION: The safety profile of the fixed-dose combination of empagliflozin and linagliptin was similar to the individual monotherapies. No new safety signals were identified.