Alogliptin; A Review of a New Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) Inhibitor for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors) are effective and safe oral incretin-based antihyperglycemic drugs. In preclinical studies, DPP-4 inhibitors have demonstrated cardiovascular benefits, independent of glycemic control, in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Since 2005, various DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin, linagliptin and saxagliptin) have been clinically available in the United States. Since 2013, alogliptin is the 4th approved DPP-4 inhibitor available on the market. Studies have shown that alogliptinis non-inferior to comparator drugs among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Alogliptin can effectively be used as a single agent or as an add-on drug in combination with other glucose lowering drugs with favorable outcomes on glycemic control and HbA1C levels. Keywords: Alogliptin, antihyperglycemic agents, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1, glucosedependent insulinotropic peptide, incretins, type 2 diabetes mellitus.