Nateglinide: A structurally novel, short-acting, hypoglycemic agent.

Nateglinide is a short-acting, pancreatic, beta-cell-selective, K(ATP) potassium channel blocker that improves overall glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Although nateglinide's mechanism of action is related to that of sulphonyl-ureas and repaglinide, important differences do exist. Nateglinide binds rapidly to the sulfonylurea SUR1 receptor with a relatively low affinity, and it dissociates from it extremely rapidly in a manner of seconds. This rapid association and dissociation gives nateglinide a unique "fast on-fast off" effect. Thus, nateglinide has a rapid onset and short duration of action stimulating insulin secretion in vivo and providing good control of postprandial hyperglycemia when taken immediately prior to meals. The rapid action of nateglinide on the beta cells stimulates and restores the normal physiological first and early phase of insulin secretion, consequently reducing postprandial hyperglycemia. This hypoglycemic effect of nateglinide leads to improved glycemic control, while the short duration avoids delayed hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia after meals. Nateglinide is not a sulfonylurea, but it shares the mechanism of action of commonly used oral hypoglycemic agents such as glibenclamide and glipizide. Like the recently introduced, short-acting agent, repaglinide, it does not incorporate a sulfonylurea moiety. However, nateglinide's effects on insulin secretion and glycemic control differ significantly from the sulfonylureas and repaglinide in that it preferentially stimulates acute phase insulin, better controls postprandial glucose excursions and spikes, and causes less hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia. Compounds with such a profile should not only achieve improved overall glucose control, but also reduce the risk of vascular complications which is the most important feature of nateglinide. Clinical studies with nateglinide have confirmed that it acts rapidly and both restores insulin release and attenuates the postprandial glucose spike. Nateglinide is both effective and well tolerated in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The reported overall profile of adverse effects appears to be superior to that of other K(ATP) potassium channel blockers, the glucose modulator metformin and PPARgamma agonists such as troglitazone. Clinical comparisons of these agents have shown nateglinide to be more effective in attenuating postprandial glucose than any other oral hypoglycemic agent, and that treatment with both nateglinide and metformin provides additive effects that afford improved control of plasma glucose levels. The administration regimen for nateglinide, immediately prior to meals, also facilitates patient compliance. (c) 2001 Prous Science. All rights reserved.