Fixed-dose combination of sitagliptin and metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Janumet(TM,) a fixed dose combination of sitagliptin/metformin HCL manufactured by Merck Pharmaceuticals, has received US Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, that are inadequately controlled, either by sitagliptin or metformin alone or together in free-dose combination form. Sitagliptin, an inhibitor of the enzyme DDP-4, assists patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to achieve glycemic control. It has been shown to be safe and effective at 100 mg daily doses. The effect of giving sitagliptin in combination with metformin is thought to have a complimentary and possibly additive effect on glycemic control.

Introduction

In 2007 it was estimated that 17.9 million Americans were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Additionally it was estimated that 5.7 million people had T2DM but were undiagnosed at the time. Together these numbers suggest that 23.6 million people or 7.8% of the population of the United States that have T2DM. In 2007 in the USA an estimated 1.6 million people were diagnosed with T2DM and that 57 million Americans over the age of 20 years have impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes.1

There is strong evidence demonstrating that benefits can be achieved from tight glycemic control.2–5 Many patients with T2DM remain uncontrolled despite a wide range of treatment options available to treat patients with T2DM including metformin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, α-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, and insulin.6 It was found that the average glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) of patients with a diagnosis of DM increased from 7.7% to 7.9% between 1990 and 1999.2 Considering the large number of people who currently have or will have T2DM and the difficulties providers face in establishing glycemic control it becomes clear that there is a need for new agents with novel mechanisms of action to increase the number of options available to both patients and healthcare providers.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors represent a new therapeutic target for the treatment of T2DM. The first DPP-4 inhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was sitagliptin (JanuviaTM) in October 2006. Sitagliptin is approved for use as monotherapy or as add-on therapy to ongoing metformin, thiazolidinedione, sulfonylurea (±metformin.) A fixed-dose combination tablet containing both sitagliptin and metformin (JanumetTM) was approved by the FDA in April 2007 and is marketed by Merck Pharmaceuticals. This fixed-dose combination tablet is available to provide patients requiring both sitagliptin and metformin to meet their A1C goals. The other DPP-4 inhibitor that is currently in use is vildagliptin which is available in the EU but not in the USA.

Mechanism of action

Sitagliptin

Insulin is secreted in response to elevation of plasma glucose. But it has been found that oral glucose intake augments insulin secretion three- to four-fold more as compared to an intravenous infusion of glucose that results in an identical elevation of plasma glucose.7 This augmentation of insulin secretion following the intake of oral glucose is known as the incretin effect. The effect is due to the release of incretins which are gut-derived hormones that are capable of potentiating the release of glucose dependent insulin secretion from the pancreas.7 Incretins are released into circulation after ingestion of food. Once in circulation they stimulate insulin release from the pancreas in a glucose-dependent manner.8

GLP-1 which is released from the endocrine L cells of the small intestine and GIP which is released from the K cells7,9 are two of the incretin hormones that increase insulin secretion in the presence of elevated glucose concentrations. The incretin effect of GLP-1 and GIP is additive and together they are responsible for the majority of the incretin action which accounts for approximately 60% of the postprandial insulin response.7 In addition to directly increasing insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, incretins exert other effects that help contribute to glycemic control. These other effects include; inhibiting appetite,10 lowering glucagon secretion,11 decreasing gastrointestinal motility, and delaying gastric emptying.12,13

It has been found that lower concentrations of active GLP-1 is associated with an inadequate insulin response.14 And patients with T2DM have almost no, or a greatly reduced incretin effect.7

The GLP-1 and GIP that are released from the L and K cells respectively are rapidly degraded and inactivated through metabolism mediated by the DPP-4 enzyme.11 It is estimated that upwards of 75% of the GLP-1 is inactivated before leaving the intestines and 40%–50% of the remaining GLP-1 is then degraded in the liver. This leaves only about 10%–15% of GLP-1 to enter systemic circulation.15

DPP-4 is a serine protease located on the surface of cells in the kidneys, intestines, bone marrow, liver, pancreas, placenta, thymus, spleen, epithelial cells, vascular endothelium, and lymphoid and myeloid cells.14 DDP-4 inhibitors such as sitagliptin block the enzymatic inactivation of the incretins which results in higher levels of active incretins in circulation. The release of incretins is dependent upon the presence of nutrients in the gut. Since the insulin-releasing effects of the incretins are glucose-dependent, insulin levels are only increased in response to the body’s need for insulin which decreases the patient’s risk of hypoglycemia while still improving glycemic control.11

Metformin

While the mechanisms of action through which metformin exerts its various effects remains somewhat unclear, it is clear that metformin contributes to glycemic control in a variety of ways. In a review of the available research in 1999, Wiernsperger and Bailey reported that metformin assists in glycemic control in many ways including reducing hepatic glucose output, increasing peripheral glucose utilization, decreasing fatty acid oxidation, reducing appetite and weight gain, and sensitizing peripheral tissue to insulin action, increasing the functional activity of glucose transporters, and increasing insulin-mediated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, which then augments a range of insulin signals.16

The precise mechanisms of action by which metformin lowers the basal and postprandial blood glucose in T2DM are not completely understood. But, it is thought that at least some of the therapeutic effects of metformin are mediated through GLP-1.17 Metformin significantly increases GLP-1 levels after an oral glucose load in obese nondiabetic patients.18 And it has been suggested that metformin does not directly inhibit DPP-4 but rather it enhances GLP-1 secretion.17 Since metformin appears to increase levels of GLP-1 in a different way than the DPP-4 inhibitors the combined effect of combination therapy with metformin and sitagliptin is thought to be complimentary.

Efficacy

When given as monotherapy19–23 and in combination with metformin,24–28 sitagliptin has been shown to be generally well tolerated and to improve A1C and other indices of glycemic control relative to placebo in patients with T2DM. 200 mg once daily doses of sitagliptin did not show an efficacy advantage over sitagliptin 100 mg once daily.20,21 Sitagliptin monotherapy administered in 50 mg twice daily doses was found to be more effective than lower twice daily doses.19 The glycemic response between sitagliptin 100 mg once daily did not differ from that of sitagliptin 50 mg twice daily.23

The fixed-dose combination tablet of sitagliptin/metformin is designed to be dosed twice daily and is available in two tablet strengths; sitagliptin 50 mg/metformin 500 mg and sitagliptin 50 mg/metformin 1000 mg.

A study conducted by Goldstein and colleagues28 demonstrated the additive effect on glycemic control of combination therapy with sitagliptin and metformin. This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind study of 1,091 patients with T2DM who were inadequately controlled on diet and exercise alone (A1C of 7.5%–11%) that was conducted over a 24-week period. Subjects were randomized to one of six arms to receive placebo, metformin monotherapy, sitagliptin monotherapy, or sitagliptin/metformin combination therapy.28 Relative to placebo, all active treatments showed significant reductions in A1C (P < 0.001) at week 24 as compared to baseline (Table 1). It was found that sitagliptin monotherapy (n = 175) lowered A1C by approximately 0.66% as compared to baseline and that metformin monotherapy (n = 177) lowered A1C by approximately 1.13%. It was also found that the sitagliptin 50 mg/metformin 1,000 mg combination (n = 178) lowered A1C by approximately 1.9% as compared to baseline. The magnitude of the placebo-adjusted reduction in A1C in the combination therapy groups as compared to the monotherapy groups demonstrates that there is an additive response when sitagliptin and metformin are given together.28

Table 1

Glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) endpoints for the treatment arms studied by Goldstein and colleagues28

Treatment arm	n	A1C at baseline	A1C at week 24	Change in A1C (%) from baseline to week 24
Metformin/sitagliptin 1,000 mg/50 mg bid	178	8.76% ± 0.95%	6.87% ± 1.09%	−1.90% (−2.06% to − 1.74%)
Metformin/sitagliptin 500 mg/50 mg bid	183	8.79% ± 1%	7.37% ± 1.20%	−1.40% (−1.56% to −1.24%)
Metformin 1,000 mg bid	177	8.68% ± 0.91%	7.58% ± 1.27%	−1.13% (− 1.29% to −0.97%)
Metformin 500 mg bid	178	8.90% ± 1%	8.04% ± 1.36%	−0.82% (−0.98% to −0.66%)
Sitagliptin 100 mg qd	175	8.87% ± 0.99%	8.18% ± 1.45%	−0.66% (−0.83 to −0.50%)
Placebo	165	8.68% ± 1%	8.88% ± 1.47%	0.17% (±0.00–0.33)

Several other trials have been conducted that added sitagliptin to patients with T2DM who were currently under poor control with metformin or other therapy for glycemic control21,22,24–27,29 (Table 2). FDA approval of fixed-dose metformin/sitagliptin (JanumetTM) was based on the study by Charbonnel and colleagues that concluded that the addition of sitagliptin 100 mg dosed once daily to ongoing metformin therapy was efficacious and well tolerated in patients with T2DM who were inadequately controlled on metformin therapy alone.25

Table 2

Key features and conclusions of trials that added sitagliptin to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were currently under poor control with metformin or other therapy for glycemic control

Study authors	Treatment arms	N	Conclusions
Hermansen et al27	Placebo + glimepiride Placebo + glimepiride + metformin Sitagliptin + glimepiride Sitagliptin + glimepiride + metformin	Completed N = 87 Completed N = 92 Completed N = 83 Completed N = 102	The addition of sitagliptin 100 mg qd significantly improved glycemic control in patients who were inadequately controlled with glimepiride or glimepiride + metformin
Nauck et al24	Sitagliptin + metformin Glipizide + metformin	Completed N = 386 Completed N = 412	The addition of sitagliptin compared with glipizide provided similar A1C lowering efficacy over 52 weeks in patients on ongoing metformin therapy
Charbonnel et al25	Sitagliptin + metformin Placebo + metformin	N = 464 N = 237	Sitagliptin 100 mg qd added to ongoing metformin therapy was efficacious and well tolerated in patients with T2DM who were inadequately controlled on metformin alone
Brazg et al26	Placebo/sitagliptin 50 mg bid + metformin Sitagliptin 50 mg bid/placebo + metformin	N = 13 N = 15	Addition of sitagliptin 50 mg b.i.d. to ongoing metformin therapy was well tolerated and improved glycemic control and β-cell function
Raz et al30	Placebo Sitagliptin 100 mg qd Sitagliptin 200 mg qd	N = 110 N = 205 N = 206	Sitagliptin was well tolerated and significantly improved glycemic control in patients with T2DM who were inadequately controlled on exercise and diet. Sitagliptin 100 mg qd had a slight numerical benefit over sitagliptin 200 mg qd
Scott et al29	Placebo + metformin Sitagliptin 100 mg qd + metformin Rosiglitazone 8 mg qd + metformin	N = 92 N = 94 N = 87	Addition of sitagliptin was effective and well tolerated in T2DM patients who were inadequately controlled on metformin therapy alone. Treatment with sitagliptin and rosiglitazone produced similar reductions in A1C
Aschner et al21	Placebo Sitagliptin 100 mg qd. Sitagliptin 200 mg qd	N = 253 N = 238 N = 250	Once daily sitagliptin monotherapy was well tolerated improved glycemic control in the fasting and postprandial states and improved measures of β-cell function. Sitagliptin 200 mg qd was slightly favored over sitagliptin 100 mg qd

Abbreviations: bid, twice daily; qd, once daily.

Kinetics

The oral bioavailability of sitagliptin is 87%. Administering sitagliptin with food does not alter the Tmax or the half life. The volume of distribution is 198 L and it is approximately 38% bound to plasma proteins.30 Sitagliptin is a minor substrate for CYP 3A4 and 2C837 but it is neither an inhibitor nor an inducer of the P450 system30 and moderate hepatic impairment does not appear to significantly alter the pharmacokinetic profile of sitagliptin.31 The primary elimination route of sitagliptin is via active tubular secretion in the kidneys (~79%) and the terminal half-life is 8–12 hours. Dosage adjustments are recommended in moderate to severe renal impairment.32 There appears to be no clinically important pharmacokinetic interactions requiring dosage adjustment with agents co-administered with sitagliptin.33

Safety

In 2007, Amori and colleagues conducted a systematic review on the efficacy and safety of incretin therapy. The incretin therapy they studied included two incretin memetics or GLP-1 analogues; exenatode, liraglutide and two DPP-4 inhibitors; sitagliptin and vildagliptin. The findings for the two DPP-4 inhibitors were reported together in the review.34

Both of the DPP-4 inhibitors were found to lower A1C similarly compared with placebo (−0.74% for sitagliptin and −0.73% for vildagliptin). The DPP-4 inhibitors were slightly less effective compared with other hypoglycemic agents (weighted mean difference, 0.21%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02%–0.39%).34

DPP-4 inhibitors were found to be more likely to lower A1C below 7% compared to placebo (43% vs 17%, respectively; risk ratio [RR], 2.5%; 95% CI: 2.1–2.8) with no difference between the two DPP-4 inhibitors.34

The DPP-4 inhibitors reduced fasting plasma glucose more than placebo and sitagliptin was favored over vildagliptin in this category.34

Weight was increased slightly with DPP-4 inhibitors as compared to placebo (weighted mean difference, 0.5 kg; 95% CI: 0.3–0.7 kg) noninferiority trials revealed the weight profile favored sitagliptin over glipizides (−2.5 kg vs 1.0 kg, respectively).34

The review found that none of the trials revealed any consistent changes in lipid profile with either DPP-4 inhibitor as compared with placebo but there were some improvements in triglycerides and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.34

The incidence of mild to moderate hypoglycemia was found to be the same between the DPP-4 inhibitors and comparator groups (1.6% vs 1.4%, respectively; RR, 1.0; 95% CI: 0.5–1.9) while severe hypoglycemia was only reported in two patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors.

The review found the DPP-4 inhibitors exhibited low absolute rates of adverse effects. The risk of nasopharyngitis (6.4% for DPP-4 inhibitor vs 6.1% for comparator; RR, 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0–1.4), urinary tract infection (3.2% for DPP-4 inhibitor vs 2.4% for comparator; RR, 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0–2.2), and headache (5.1% for DPP-4 inhibitor vs 3.9% for comparator; RR, 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.7) was increased with DPP-4 therapy vs comparators.34

In 2009 the Cochrane Collaboration published a review of the research conducted on the DPP-4 inhibitors, sitagliptin and vildagliptin.35 The research was designed to assess the effects of DPP-4 inhibitors for T2DM. The review included 11 trials of good quality that evaluated sitagliptin therapy with a total of 6,743 patients. Six trials in the review compared sitagliptin monotherapy with placebo.19–23,28 Two trials compared sitagliptin use with other single agent hypoglycemic treatment.19,28 And six of the trials compared sitagliptin combination therapies with other combination therapies of hypoglycemic agents.19,24,25,27,28,36 Most of the studies lasted 24 weeks.35

The Cochrane review concluded that sitagliptin was overall well tolerated. The review found that all-cause infections showed a statistically significant increase after sitagliptin treatment (RR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02–1.31; P = 0.003).35

Severe hypoglycemia was not reported in patients taking sitagliptin. Headache was reported more often with DPP-4 inhibitors. Sitagliptin therapy did not result in weight gain but weight loss was found to be more pronounced following placebo therapy.35

None of the trials that were reviewed published data on mortality, cost of care, diabetic complications, or health-related quality of life.35

There are no clinically significant drug interactions with sitagliptin. Sitagliptin 200 mg given once daily for five days to 12 patients (nine men and three women) did not alter the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin given as one 20 mg dose on day 5 of sitagliptin therapy.37 Likewise the pharmacokinetics of rosiglitazone were not altered by coadministration of a daily dose of 200 mg of sitagliptin in 12 patients (eight men and four women).38 Coadministration of 100 mg of sitagliptin daily with one dose of 600 mg of cyclosporine caused the t½ of sitagliptin to fall from 11.6 hours to 10.6 hours (P = 0.016), increased the Cmax of sitagliptin from 706 nmol/L to 1185 nmol/L and increased the renal clearance of sitagliptin from 92 ml/min to 121 ml/min.39 0.25 mg of digoxin co-adminstered daily with 100–200 mg of sitagliptin for at least 10 days resulted in an increase in the area under curve (AUC) of digoxin of 11% and 18%, respectively, and a small increase in the fraction of digoxin excreted in the urine was observed.40

The reported incidence of lactic acidosis in patients receiving metformin hydrochloride is very low (approximately 0.03 cases per 1,000 patient-years, with approximately 0.015 fatal cases per 1,000 patient-years).41 Reported cases have occurred primarily in diabetic patients with significant renal insufficiency.41 In patients with decreased renal function the plasma and blood half-life of metformin is prolonged and the renal clearance is decreased in proportion to the decrease in creatinine clearance.41 The risk of lactic acidosis increases with the degree of renal dysfunction and the patient’s age.41

The most common side effects associated with metformin therapy largely involve the gastrointestinal system and include diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, indigestion, asthenia, and headache.41

Combination sitagliptin/metformin

No published studies have evaluated the long-term health outcomes of combination sitagliptin/metformin for treatment of TD2M.

Hypoglycemia was not found to be increased with the administration of combination therapy with sitagliptin and metformin.25

The package insert for JanumetTM offers additional safety information.41

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women with JanumetTM or its components. Therefore its safety in pregnant women is unknown and it should only be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Caution is also advised in women who are breastfeeding.41

JanumetTM is contraindicated in patients with renal disease or renal dysfunction due to the metformin component of the drug and the possible development of lactic acidosis. JanumetTM should not be initiated, and should be discontinued, in men with a serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL and women with a serum creatinine ≥1.4 mg/dL.41

JanumetTM should not be used in patients with chronic metabolic acidosis, and should be used cautiously in those with a history of diabetic ketoacidosis.41

Sitagliptin/metformin fixed-dose combination therapy adherence rates

By taking fixed-dose combination products patients may be able to decrease the total number of pills taken during a day which potentially improves adherence to therapy.

No studies have been conducted to determine if adherence rates favor the fixed-dose combination of sitagliptin/metformin tablets or the co-administration of the components. However, studies have been conducted to determine if adherence rates differed between free-dose combination and fixed-dose combination forms of other drugs used to treat T2DM.

A retrospective database analysis was conducted by Melikian and colleagues42 that reviewed the rate of adherence of patients in a managed care organization who were taking glyburide or metformin monotherapy in free-dose combination or in fixed-dose combination. Patients were divided into two categories; newly treated patients who were not treated for diabetes prior to the index date (the first prescription fill during the identification period), and previously treated patients who were treated for diabetes prior to the index date.

The study concluded that for newly-treated patients there was no significant differences in adherence over the initial six months of pharmacologic therapy between patients receiving monotherapy or free-dose combination therapy compared with those receiving fixed-dose combination therapy.42 Significantly lower adherence rates were observed in patients receiving metformin or glyburide monotherapy in the pre-index period who had the alternative agent added, resulting in combination therapy, at the index date (54%; 95% CI: 0.52–0.55) compared to those with a switch to fixed-dose glyburide/metformin combination therapy at the index date.42 There was a significant improvement in adherence rates in patients who had been receiving combination therapy in the pre-index period and were switched to fixed-dose combination therapy at the index date (71% vs 87%; p < 0.001).42

A study conducted by Blond and colleagues43 found similar results. The trial defined adherence as the total days’ supply of medication during the study follow-up period divided by the length of the follow-up period. It was found that patients who were taking the fixed-dose form of glyburide/metformin had a drug supply on 84% of the days while those who were taking the co-administered components had a drug supply on 76% of the days.43

A retrospective database analysis was conducted by Vanderpoel and colleagues to asses changes in medication adherence rates associated with oral hypoglycemic agents in subjects switching from either monotherapy metformin or rosiglitazone or free-dose administration of rosiglitazone and metformin to fixed-dose administration of rosiglitazone/metformin. In this study a proxy measurement of medication adherence was calculated and higher by calculating a medication possession ratio (MPR). Higher scores were associated with increased adherence. The study concluded fixed-dose combination therapy yielded significant improvements in medication adherence rates compared with dual therapy regimens44 (Table 3).

Table 3

Endpoints for the treatment arms studied by Vanderpoel and colleagues44

Therapy	n	Medication possession ratios pre-index	Medication possession ratios post-index
Remained on monotherapy throughout study	N = 14291	0.90	0.89
Switched to free-dose combination therapy after index date	N = 931	0.80	0.67
Switched to a fixed-dose combination after index date	N = 349	0.87	0.83
Remained on free-dose combination therapy after index date	N = 1,230	0.84	0.83
Switched the fixed-dose combination therapy after index date	N = 127	0.79	0.82

Sitagliptin/metformin fixed-dose combination efficacy compared to efficacy of other fixed-dose combination therapies for T2DM

There has only been one study that attempted to compare the efficacy of sitagliptin/metformin combination therapy with any other drug given in combination with metformin. Nauck and colleagues compared sitagliptin/metformin with glipizide/metformin combination therapy. This study concluded that the addition of 100 mg of sitagliptin to ongoing metformin therapy provided similar A1C-lowering effects as the addition of glipizide in 5 to 20 mg daily doses to ongoing metformin therapy.24 The side effect profile favored the sitagliptin/metformin-treated patients over the glipizide/metformin-treated patients. More of the glipizide/ metformin-treated patients developed hypoglycemia than the sitagliptin/metformin-treated patients (32% vs 5%). Weight gain was more of an issue for the glipizide/metformin-treated patients than the sitagliptin/metformin-treated patients (+1.1 kg with glipizide and −1.5 kg with sitagliptin).24 Cost considerations likely would favor treatment with glipizide/metformin over sitagliptin/metformin since generic forms of metformin and glipizide are available and since generic forms of sitagliptin alone or in fixed-dose combination with metformin are not.

Place in therapy of fixed-dose combination therapy sitagliptin/metformin

There are now five therapeutic classes of drugs available to be used for glycemic control in patients with T2DM; biguanides (eg, metformin), insulin secretagogues (eg, sulfonylureas), thiazolidinediones, alpha glycosidase inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors. Five unique drugs are currently available in fixed-dose combination with metformin; glyburide/metformin, glipizide/metformin, rosiglitazone/metformin, pioglitazone/metformin, and now sitagliptin/metformin. With so many choices available, it is important to have an understanding of why prescribers might select one drug over the other. Prescribing decisions depend on other factors such as side-effect profiles, adherence and cost in cases where the comparative efficacies of therapies are similar.

The combined formulation of sitagliptin and metformin finds a niche with patients currently taking both sitagliptin and metformin as separate pills although the dosing flexibility of the metformin component diminishes when it is given in fixed-dose combination with sitagliptin. Patients who are insufficiently controlled on either sitagliptin or metformin alone are also candidates for the fixed-dose combination therapy.

Conclusion

Patients who are using free-dose combination therapy sitagliptin/metformin may benefit from switching to the fixed-dose combination therapy.

Other patients who may benefit from fixed-dose combination therapy with sitagliptin/metformin include those patients with hyperglycemia who are uncontrolled on metformin or sitagliptin alone, those who tend toward hypoglycemia when taking sulfonylureas in combination with metformin, and patients with T2DM for whom weight gain is a component of their disease and who may be at increased risk for congestive heart failure.

Finally fixed-dose combination therapy with sitagliptin/metformin may be a reasonable choice for patients who are at an increased risk of heart disease. Both pioglitazone (Actose®) and rosiglitazone (Avandia®) have FDA “black box” warnings that indicate they may cause or worsen congestive heart failure and their side effects include fluid retention, weight gain, and in rare cases, worsening of heart failure and its symptoms.45 Fixed-dose combination therapy with sitagliptin/metformin provides an option for patients and practitioners who are looking to decrease their pill burden and maximize medication adherence.