Sitagliptin or exenatide once weekly for type 2 diabetes: comparison of the clinical trials.

INTRODUCTION: There is a need for new and improved treatments for type 2 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a gut hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and the levels of GLP-1 can be increased by inhibiting DPP-4. Sitagliptin is one of the DDP-4 inhibitors used to increase the levels of GLP-1. Exenatide is an agonist at the GLP-1 receptors, which is resistant to breakdown and has a longer action than GLP-1. AREAS COVERED: This review compares the clinical trials of sitagliptin and exenatide once weekly in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Only peer-reviewed trials listed on PubMed were included. EXPERT OPINION: Both sitagliptin and exenatide once weekly are capable of reducing HbA1c and plasma glucose levels, but exenatide once weekly is more potent than sitagliptin and this may lead to different roles for these agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.