Publication:

Role of teneligliptin in rural India as add-on third drug in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Teneligliptin was introduced in India in May 2015. It has gained popularity and is already widely prescribed in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The main aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and superiority of teneligliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor as add-on third drug along with metformin and glimepiride in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural India.

Methods In this comparative observational study, three groups of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (on monotherapy) patients each comprising 50 in number were studied for 3 months. Groups were divided into patients on triple drug regimens (Group A- Metformin+Glimepiride+voglibose; Group B- Metformin+Glimepiride+Pioglitazone and Group C- Metformin+Glimepiride+Teneligliptin). In each group FBS and PPBS were tested at the beginning and at 4 weeks intervals. HbA1c was tested at the start of study and at the end of 12 weeks.

Results After 12 weeks of therapy, it was observed that FBS, PPBS and HbA1c were significantly reduced in Group-C patients containing teneligliptin in comparison to Group-A and B containing voglibose and pioglitazone respectively.

Conclusions Teneligliptin significantly improves glycemic control in Indian patients with T2DM when prescribed as an add-on to one or more other commonly prescribed antidiabetic drugs, even in patients of rural India. It may be an ideal add-on third drug in the treatment of T2 DM patients.