Long-term safety and efficacy of linagliptin as monotherapy or in combination with other oral glucose-lowering agents in 2121 subjects with type 2 diabetes: up to 2 years exposure in 24-week phase III trials followed by a 78-week open-label extension

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term safety, tolerability and efficacy of the dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor linagliptin given either alone or in combination with other oral glucose‐lowering agents in persons with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A 78‐week open‐label extension study evaluated subjects who participated in one of four preceding 24‐week, randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled parent trials and who received linagliptin, linagliptin + metformin, linagliptin + metformin + a sulphonylurea or linagliptin + pioglitazone (all with linagliptin administered orally once daily). Individuals receiving one of these treatments during a previous trial continued the same treatment (n = 1532) for up to a total of 102 weeks, whereas those previously receiving placebo were switched to linagliptin (n = 589). All 2121 participants received at least one dose of the trial medication and were included in the primary safety analysis. Results: In subjects previously receiving active treatment, the glycosylated haemoglobin A_1c reduction achieved during the 24‐week parent trials was sustained through the 78‐week extension period (change from baseline to week 102: −0.8%). Drug‐related adverse events were experienced by 14.3% of participants. Hypoglycaemia occurred in 13.9% of participants and was similar between those previously receiving treatment (13.6%) and those switching from placebo to linagliptin (14.6%). Hypoglycaemia occurred most frequently with the use of metformin + a sulphonylurea background therapy (11%). Overall, no clinically relevant changes in body weight were observed. Conclusion: Long‐term treatment with linagliptin was well tolerated with no change in the safety profile observed during the extension study. Sustained long‐term glycaemic control was maintained for up to 102 weeks with either linagliptin monotherapy or linagliptin in combination with other oral glucose‐lowering agents.