Cardiovascular Safety Studies Research Articles

Applications of SGLT2 inhibitors beyond glycaemic control.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors were initially developed for their glucose-lowering effects and have shown a modest glycaemic benefit in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the past decade, a series of large, robust clinical trials of these therapies have demonstrated striking beneficial effects for various care goals, transforming the chronic disease therapeutic landscape. Cardiovascular safety studies in people with T2DM demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure. Subsequent trials in participants with heart failure with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors have beneficial effects on heart failure outcomes. In dedicated kidney outcome studies, SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the incidence of kidney failure among participants with or without diabetes. Post hoc analyses have suggested a range of other benefits of these drugs in conditions as diverse as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, kidney stone prevention and anaemia. SGLT2 inhibitors have a generally favourable adverse effect profile, although patient selection and medication counselling remain important. Concerted efforts are needed to better integrate these agents into routine care and support long-term medication adherence to close the gap between clinical trial outcomes and those achieved in the real world.

Development of a pharmaceutical database as an aid to the nonclinical detection of drug-induced cardiac toxicity

The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) Cardiac Safety Committee designed and created a publicly accessible database with an initial set of 128 pharmacologically defined pharmaceutical agents, many with known cardiotoxic properties. The database includes specific information about each compound that could be useful in evaluating hypotheses around mechanisms of drug-induced cardiac toxicity or for development of novel cardiovascular safety assays. Data on each of the compounds was obtained from published literature and online sources (e.g., DrugBank.ca and International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) / British Pharmacological Society (BPS) Guide to PHARMACOLOGY) and was curated by 10 subject matter experts. The database includes information such as compound name, pharmacological mode of action, characterized cardiac mode of action, type of cardiac toxicity, known clinical cardiac toxicity profile, animal models used to evaluate the cardiotoxicity profile, routes of administration, and toxicokinetic parameters (i.e., Cmax). Data from both nonclinical and clinical studies are included for each compound. The user-friendly web interface allows for multiple approaches to search the database and is also intended to provide a means for the submission of new data/compounds from relevant users. This will ensure that the database is constantly updated and remains current. Such a data repository will not only aid the HESI working groups in defining drugs for use in any future studies, but safety scientists can also use the database as a vehicle of support for broader cardiovascular safety studies or exploring mechanisms of toxicity associated with certain pharmacological modes of action.

Short-term CaMKII inhibition with tatCN19o does not erase pre-formed memory in mice and is neuroprotective in pigs

The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a central regulator of learning and memory, which poses a problem for targeting it therapeutically. Indeed, our study supports prior conclusions that long-term interference with CaMKII signaling can erase pre-formed memories. By contrast, short-term pharmacological CaMKII inhibition with the neuroprotective peptide tatCN19o interfered with learning in mice only mildly and transiently (for less than 1h) and did not at all reverse pre-formed memories. These results were obtained with ≥500-fold of the dose that protected hippocampal neurons from cell death after a highly clinically relevant pig model of transient global cerebral ischemia: ventricular fibrillation followed by advanced life support and electrical defibrillation to induce the return of spontaneous circulation. Of additional importance for therapy development, our preliminary cardiovascular safety studies in mice and pig did not indicate any concerns with acute tatCN19o injection. Taken together, although prolonged interference with CaMKII signaling can erase memory, acute short-term CaMKII inhibition with tatCN19o did not cause such retrograde amnesia that would pose a contraindication for therapy.

An Update on the Current and Emerging Use of Thiazolidinediones for Type 2 Diabetes.

Guidelines have increasingly stressed the concept that adequate glycemic control is required to prevent or decrease the macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PPAR-gamma agonists (“glitazones”) are no longer prioritized due to their effects on heart failure. However, the association between these drugs and innovative therapies could be a valuable tool to attenuate the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Glitazones are used for the treatment of diabetes and associated comorbidities. There is substantial scientific evidence demonstrating the effect of glitazones at a cardiometabolic level, as well as on hematological and neurological pathologies that point to their usefulness. The use of glitazones has always been controversial both for the type of patients who must take these drugs and for the side effects associated with them. Unfortunately, the recent guidelines do not include them among the preferred drugs for the treatment of hyperglycemia and rosiglitazone is out of the market in many countries due to an adverse cardiovascular risk profile. Even though real-life studies have proven otherwise, and their pleiotropic effects have been highlighted, they have been unable to achieve primacy in the choice of antihyperglycemic drugs. It would be appropriate to demonstrate the usefulness of pioglitazone and its therapeutic benefit with further cardiovascular safety studies.

Large-scale evidence generation and evaluation across a network of databases for type 2 diabetes mellitus (LEGEND-T2DM): a protocol for a series of multinational, real-world comparative cardiovascular effectiveness and safety studies

IntroductionTherapeutic options for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have expanded over the last decade with the emergence of cardioprotective novel agents, but without such data for older drugs, leaving a...

Prevention and Management of Heart Failure: Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Patients With and Without Diabetes

Certain antidiabetic therapies have adverse cardiovascular (CV) consequences. The recommendations for CV safety studies for new antidiabetic therapies led to the discovery that the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have benefits in heart failure (HF) management. Mounting evidence from large, international, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have consistently demonstrated a reduction in hospitalizations for heart failure (HHF) among populations with type 2 diabetes or with HF with reduced ejection fraction. In vitro, animal and human studies have attempted to identify the cardioprotective mechanisms of SGLT2is, although these are not yet clearly defined. This review will summarize the major SGLT2i trials, which have resulted in valuable additions to CV care that are expected to significantly reduce both incident HF and established HF progression.

Possible Mechanisms of Action of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure

In mid-2013, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors such as canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin were introduced as possible treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Cardiovascular safety studies demonstrated that not only were SGLT2 inhibitors safe, but they were also associated with a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality and heart failure (HF) outcomes including hospitalizations. These findings encouraged the development of clinical trials aimed specifically at investigating the effects of this new drug class on HF with reduced ejection fraction [...]

Gliflozins for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure and Renal Failure in Type 2 Diabetes.

Gliflozins are effective drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. They inhibit sodium glucose cotransporter 2 in the proximal renal tubule, leading to increased glucose excretion. On the basis of findings from relevant studies, gliflozins are also increasingly used in clinical practice to treat congestive heart failure and renal failure. This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved from a selective literature search in PubMed and GoogleScholar. Cardiovascular safety studies revealed early on that gliflozins can lower the hospitalization rate of patients suffering from congestive heart failure with a reduced leftventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). They also showed favorable effects on multiple renal endpoints. In recent years, studies such as DAPA-HF and CREDENCE have further documented the benefit of gliflozins in the treatment of congestive heart failure and renal failure in patients with type 2 diabetes, and gliflozins have accordingly been incorporated into the pertinent guidelines. In the recently published EMPEROR-Reduced trial, empagliflozin was found to significantly lower the frequency of a combined cardiovascular endpoint in patients with HFrEF (19.4 % versus 24.7%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.75; 95% confidence interval [0.65; 0.86]; number needed to treat [NNT] 19, p <0.001). In the DAPA-CKD trial, which was also recently published, dapagliflozin was found to significantly lower the frequency of a combined renal endpoint (9.2% versus 14.5%; HR 0.61 [0.51; 0.72]; NNT 19; p <0.001). On the basis of findings from specific studies, gliflozins will henceforth be a major class of drug for the treatment of HFrEF and renal failure, independently of the presence of type 2 diabetes.

Metformin: Is it Still the First Line in Type 2 Diabetes Management Algorithm?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has an ever-growing prevalence worldwide, affecting 1 in 11 adults. It continues to significantly impact patients in terms of morbidity and mortality, in addition to impairing quality of life while adding to the spiralling healthcare costs. Metformin was first used over half a century ago, and for the past two decades, it has been considered first-line oral therapy to treat patients with T2DM, in whom lifestyle measures failed to improve glycaemic control. Early landmark studies supported a glycaemic benefit with metformin use with a relatively safe adverse effect profile, particularly with avoidance of hypoglycaemia. Moreover, studies have indicated other potential beneficial role for metformin on organs typically affected by diabetes complications. However, more recently, with the discovery of newer hypoglycaemic agents and the wealth of data provided by large-scale cardiovascular safety studies, algorithms for the treatment of patients with T2DM have become increasingly complex. Indeed, recent guidelines challenge current thinking and advocate the use of agents other than metformin as first-line agents in those with higher cardiovascular risk, potentially unseating metformin from its long-held throne. This narrative review aims to summarize the background and origins of metformin, assess its role in the current management of patients with T2DM, highlighting the clinical efficacy and safety profile of this agent. Also, the position of metformin in the clinical algorithms is discussed in light of the most recent evidence in the field, helping with an ever-increasing shift towards individualized patient care to maximize benefits and minimize risks.

Hipoglicemiantes orales en el tratamiento actual de la Diabtetes Mellitus tipo 2

Se describe la evolución del concepto del efecto incretina y su aplicación al desarrollo de medicamentos que ayudan al control de la glicemia en personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2). Al encontrarse que este efecto estaba alterado en personas con DM2 y descubrir la enzima que metaboliza a estas hormonas intestinales, se empezó el desarrollo de inhibidores cada vez más específicos de la enzima dipeptidil peptidasa-4 (DPP-4). Posteriormente, se presenta los resultados de los estudios de seguridad cardiovascular y sobre el posicionamiento de estos medicamentos en las guías de manejo de la DM2.

Mesa 2: Insuficiencia cardíaca y diabetes mellitus tipo 2

Desde que el estudio Framingham en 1974 reportó un aumento de dos a cinco veces en el riesgo de desarrollar insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) en pacientes con diabetes mellitus (DM), otros estudios observacionales confirmaron esta asociación que ha tomado gran visibilidad en los últimos años a partir de los resultados de los estudios de seguridad cardiovascular de las drogas antidiabéticas.La IC se define como un síndrome clínico que resulta del deterioro funcional o estructural del llenado ventricular o la eyección de sangre. Puede clasificarse según la fracción de eyección, la presencia de síntomas y la limitación de la actividad física.Existen distintos factores asociados a la IC en personas con DM como la edad, la antigüedad de la enfermedad, la utilización de insulina, la enfermedad coronaria, la hipertensión arterial, la enfermedad arterial periférica, el aumento de creatinina, el escaso control glucémico, la albuminuria y la obesidad. A su vez la IC se asocia a insulinorresistencia y a estados disglucémicos que se consideran de riesgo para el desarrollo de DM.

Mesa 3: Efectos cardiovasculares de fármacos antidiabéticos

Los eventos cardiovasculares representan la mayor complicación de la diabetes. La evidencia sugiere que la metformina mejora los resultados cardiovasculares en pacientes con diabetes, especialmente en el United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) y otros estudios posteriores, por distintos mecanismos.Hay pocos estudios de seguridad cardiovascular para sulfonilureas aunque no tendrían un perfil seguro a este nivel. La gliclazida parece ser la de mejor performance de las drogas de este grupo. Algo similar ocurre con las meglitinidas, para las cuales los datos indican que no aumentarían el riesgo pero tampoco mejorarían la incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares.Las tiazolidinodionas son las drogas más cuestionadas, aunque los estudios y metaanálisis son contradictorios no habría dudas que aumentan el riesgo de insuficiencia cardíaca. Los inhibidores de la DPPIV mostraron resultados neutros a excepción de saxagliptina que aumentaría el riesgo de internación por insuficiencia cardiaca.Existen datos convincentes que los inhibidores de los receptores SGLT-2 a nivel renal y los análogos del GLP-1 intestinal tienen efectos positivos a nivel cardiovascular, con algunas diferencias entre los integrantes de esta familia.En cuanto a las insulinas, los estudios sugieren que tanto los análogos lentos como rápidos tendrían un mejor perfil cardiovascular, ligado principalmente a la menor incidencia de hipoglucemias severas, que insulina NPH y regular respectivamente.

Recomendaciones para el manejo del riesgo cardiorrenal en el paciente con diabetes mellitus tipo 2

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular and renal problems. The scientific evidence as regards how this must be approached in the diabetic patient in an integrated manner in order to prevent complications continues changing rapidly. In cardiovascular safety studies, the new anti-diabetic drugs have demonstrated that they reduce the combined cardiovascular outcome and deterioration of kidney function. Other anti-diabetic drugs also the risk of hospital admission due to heart failure. This document sets out the position of four scientific societies through their expert committees, who were also responsible for replying to fifteen questions related to cardiovascular and kidney risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Implications of Haptoglobin Genotype and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Diabetes

Haptoglobin (HAP) is genetically polymorphic with three primary genotypes, HAP 1-1, 2-1 and 2-2. Each genotype differs phenotypically in HAP structure and ability to perform its main function, scavenging free hemoglobin (Hb) released from old red blood cells. Patients with both diabetes and the genotype 2-2 appear to be at an increased cardiovascular risk than those with the other genotypes or patients without diabetes. This risk appears elevated with worse glycemic control. The exact mechanism for this increased risk is unknown but there are several proposed causes. Vitamin E has shown to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with both diabetes and the 2-2 genotype but the safety of implementing such therapy remains unknown. Recent post-hoc evaluation of a landmark study originally designed to assess the benefits and risks of more aggressive glycemic control suggests there may be a cardiovascular benefit in patients with diabetes and the 2-2 genotype that is not seen in those with the other genotypes. This information, if confirmed with post-hoc evaluation of other similar landmark studies as well as evaluation of genotype differences in recent cardiovascular safety studies with glucagon-like peptide agonists or sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors, could provide clinicians with an avenue to better identify patients most at risk for cardiovascular events and who may benefit the most from more aggressive glycemic control or use of other antihyperglycemic agents.

GLP-1 receptor agonists and pancreatic safety concerns in type 2 diabetic patients: data from cardiovascular outcome trials.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been suggested to be associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The aim of this meta-analysis was to collect data from large-scale cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) to assess the effect of GLP-1RAs on the incidence of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Database of Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were extensively searched up to October 10, 2019. Randomized controlled trials were eligible if they compared GLP-RA with placebo as add-on therapy to standard care in T2DM patients, and reported outcomes required for cardiovascular safety studies and events of acute pancreatitis and/or pancreatic cancer. Peto odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Seven CVOTs enrolling 56,004 patients with T2DM were identified, with a median follow-up time ranging from 1.3 to 5.4 years. A total of 180 cases of acute pancreatitis and 108 cases of pancreatic cancer were reported. The risk of either acute pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer with GLP-1-RA treatment was not significantly different from that observed in placebo arm (Peto OR [95% CI] 1.05 [0.78-1.40], P = 0.76, and 1.12 [0.77-1.63], P = 0.56, respectively), and the results remained robust to sensitivity analyses. Pooled analysis of CVOTs did not suggest any increased risk of either acute pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer with GLP-1RA treatment in T2DM patients.

Organoprotective effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists with regard to findings of evidencebased cardiovascular safety studies

The article discusses the potential opportunities for impact of antidiabetic drugs from the group of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP- 1) receptor agonists on the risks of development and progression of cardiovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their possible role in increasing the patients’ expectancy and quality of life. The existing differences between the drugs of this class should be taken into account in using personalized approach to therapy, developing and introducing new guidelines for specialized medical care for patients with type 2 diabetes into clinical practice. The article presented data on the efficacy and safety of the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and discusses data on the possible mechanisms of non-glycemic effects underlying their cardio and nephroprotection. The features of pharmacological characteristics affecting the clinical efficacy and development of side effects are considered. The article also provides data from randomized clinical trials of various GLP-1 receptor agonists that demonstrate the positive effect of drugs of this class on cardiovascular and nephrological outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Nephrology Practice: A Narrative Review.

Purpose of the review:Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are recommended for eligible patients with type 2 diabetes for the secondary prevention of adverse cardiovascular and kidney disease outcomes. Patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease, a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and/or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction should be assessed for the use of these therapies.Sources of information:The sources include published clinical trials with SGLT2is, with a focus on cardiovascular safety studies and kidney protection trials.Methods:Information was gathered via a review of relevant literature and clinical practice guidelines, incorporated with real-life clinical experience.Key findings:Clinicians prescribing these agents must be familiar with the benefits of SGLT2is on cardiovascular and renal endpoints, and with adverse effects of SGLT2is, including mycotic genital infections and diabetic ketoacidosis. Primary care physicians and specialists should know how to adjust antihypertensive, antiglycemic, and diuretic agents. With the results of completed cardiovascular outcome trials and the Canagliflozin and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes and Nephropathy trial, nephrologists specifically have a unique opportunity to impact the safe, effective, and equitable implementation of SGLT2is into clinical practice.Limitations:Further work is needed in specific patient subgroups, including patients with chronic kidney disease stages IV and V, patients with kidney disease but lower levels of albuminuria, and in patients without diabetes.

Hypothermia-induced QTc prolongation in non-human primates; Why you should measure body temperature in cardiovascular safety studies

Hypothermia-induced QTc prolongation in non-human primates; Why you should measure body temperature in cardiovascular safety studies

Cardiovascular Safety of Urate Lowering Therapies.

The effect of urate lowering treatment (ULT) on cardiovascular (CV) risk and mortality in gout has been a topic of interest. This review discusses the CV effect of ULT and comparative CV safety among ULT agents. The mechanism linking gout with CV risk is not fully understood but seems multifactorial involving hyperuricemia, xanthine oxidase (XO), oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. Conflicting data exist regarding CV benefits of ULT in adults with and without hyperuricemia. Although meta-analyses on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest CV benefits with allopurinol, few high-quality RCTs have examined the CV effect of ULT among patients with hyperuricemia or gout. The recent CARES trial adds new information on comparative CV safety between two XO inhibitors (XOIs), febuxostat and allopurinol, in patients with gout. It remains unclear whether ULT reduces CV risk in patients with gout or hyperuricemia. Comparative CV safety studies of XOIs suggest that additional mechanisms beyond urate-lowering effect or XO inhibition are likely involved in CV risk modification in patients with gout. Ongoing RCTs of ULT may be able to further determine the effect of ULT on CV risk.

NOEL and NOAEL: A retrospective analysis of mention in a sample of recently conducted safety pharmacology studies

IntroductionThe concept of characterizing adversity in relation to administered test article dose and/or exposure within toxicology studies has long been considered a normal aspect of the drug safety evaluation enterprise. The typical way this is done in drug safety investigations is by examining study data, often with focus on clinical signs, clinical pathology and histopathology, to determine a No-Observable-Effect-Level (NOEL) and/or a No-Observable-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL). Once established, these, with other information, may be used to identify a safe starting dose in human clinical trials. Although safety pharmacology (SP) is concerned to identify and characterize potentially “adverse” functional effects, NOEL, and particularly NOAEL, traditionally do not have application in SP study interpretation and reporting. MethodsAn anonymized survey of a contract research laboratory master schedule was undertaken to appreciate recent usage of these concepts in GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurobehavioral safety studies. ResultsResults across the sample of studies (N = 635) generally confirmed application of appropriate dose selection strategies, as there was a very low proportion (<1%) of observed severe adverse events (antecedent observations ultimately associated with morbidity/mortality). Data further indicated either no mention of NOEL/NOAEL (50%), or alternately, explicit identification of NOEL (28%), or NOAEL (21%). The majority of times a NOAEL was identified, it was also the case that this coincided with the highest dose administered (e.g., there may have been drug-related findings, but these were considered non-adverse across the dose range). DiscussionWhile the concept of adversity is certainly relevant to nonclinical SP studies, actual current practices appear to reflect a history which generally avoids toxicologically-oriented classifications such as NOAEL. Questions remain regarding the applicability of NOAELs to safety pharmacology studies, including, importantly, the specific circumstances under which such designations of adversity may be considered to add value to understandings of relative risk and risk mitigation in early human clinical trials.