Gliptins: a new class of oral hypoglycaemic agent

The epidemic of type 2 diabetes worldwide continues unabated. Despite a number of existing therapies, treatment goals are seldom fully achieved. While insulin resistance and beta cell failure remain important in the pathogenesis of the condition, the role of incretin hormones in glucose homeostasis has recently become clearer. Incretins have several glucoregulatory mechanisms, and a novel approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes focuses on enhancing and prolonging the physiological actions of these hormones. Gliptins inhibit the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), which degrades incretin hormones. These drugs are a promising new class of oral hypoglycaemic medication, which appear to be weight-neutral and have few side-effects, although the published clinical studies are mainly regulatory licensing studies. As these drugs now are available for clinical use, we discuss the mechanism of action, efficacy and potential adverse effects of this new class of oral hypoglycaemic agent.