New Therapeutics for Diabetes Using Incretin Hormone

New therapeutics for type 2 diabetes using incretin hormone were introduced recently. Incretin-based therapies consist of two types: GLP-1 agonists mainly acting on the GLP-1 receptor and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors). The former is resistant to DPP-4 and injectable. The latter is oral medications raising endogenous GLP-1 by inhibiting the degrading enzyme DPP-4. The incretin based therapies are promising and more commonly used due to their action and safety profile. Stimulation of insulin secretion by these drugs occurs in a glucose-dependent manner. Incretin based therapies have low risk for hypoglycemia. The subsequent review outlines evidence from selected clinical trials of the currently available GLP-1 agonists, exenatide and liraglutide, and DPP-4 inhibitors, sitagliptin and vildagliptin. (Korean J Med 2011;80:625-634)