New anti-diabetic agents

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency and/or insulin resistance. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is the most common cause of death in people with diabetes mellitus. Several clinical trials have addressed the long-term effects of near-normoglycemia on CVD, but did not find evidence of an effect. However, some recent clinical trials of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (EMPA-REG [Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes Trial], CANVAS [Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study]) or glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (LEADER [Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results-A Long Term Evaluation], SUSTAIN-6 [Trial to Evaluate Cardiovascular and Other Long-term Outcomes with Semaglutide in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes]) showed very promising results regarding the prevention of CVD. In this review, I discuss some of these new anti-diabetic agents and present clinical information regarding these drugs.