The FDA recently approved a new drug for the treatment of type II diabetes. Its name: canagliflozin. It has a novel mechanism for treating diabetes and is classified as a sodium-glucose contransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor. It is now the only once daily medication available to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. The side effects seem tolerable except the FDA is requiring 5 post-marketing studies on risk of infection associated with canagliflozin.
Its mechanism allows a way for the patient to control their hyperglycemia without the use of insulin. This means they won't experience hypoglycemia either from the overadministration of exogenous insulin. The SGLT-2 transporter is responsible for glucose reabsorption in the kidneys. It also decreases the threshold for glucose in the kidneys and promotes glucose's excretion from the body.
Results from clinical trials showed that both the 100 and 300mg doses improved glycemic control and were associated with reductions in body weight and blood pressure. In addition, the agent was approved as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with other drugs for treating patients with type 2 diabetes, including pioglitazone, metformin, sulfonylurea, and insulin.
The main side effects besides the increase in urination were the infection risks. Urinary tract infections and genital mycotic infections were seen at higher rates in patients taking canagliflozin.
Be on the lookout for other new drugs in this class of SGLT-2 inhibitors. Many are in clinical trials currently!
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