Treatment of type 2 diabetes with a combination regimen of repaglinide plus pioglitazone

Abstract

The efficacy and safety of combination therapy (repaglinide plus pioglitazone) was compared to repaglinide or pioglitazone in 24-week treatment of type 2 diabetes. This randomized, multicenter, open-label, parallel-group study enrolled 246 adults (age 24–85) who had shown inadequate response in previous sulfonylurea or metformin monotherapy (HbA 1c > 7%). Prior therapy was withdrawn for 2 weeks, followed by randomization to repaglinide, pioglitazone, or repaglinide/pioglitazone. In the first 12 weeks of treatment, repaglinide doses were optimized, followed by 12 weeks of maintenance therapy. Pioglitazone dosage was fixed at 30 mg per day. Baseline HbA 1c values were comparable (9.0% for repaglinide, 9.1% for pioglitazone, 9.3% for combination). Mean changes in HbA 1c values at the end of treatment were −1.76% for repaglinide/pioglitazone, −0.18% for repaglinide, +0.32% for pioglitazone. Fasting plasma glucose reductions were −82 mg/dl for combination therapy, −34 mg/dl for repaglinide, −18 mg/dl for pioglitazone. Minor hypoglycemia occurred in 5% of patients for the combination, 8% for repaglinide, and 3% for pioglitazone. Weight gains for combination therapy were correlated to individual HbA 1c reductions. In summary, for patients who had previously failed oral antidiabetic monotherapy, the combination repaglinide/pioglitazone had acceptable safety, with greater reductions of glycemic parameters than therapy using either agent alone.