From the Research
Imeglimin is a recommended treatment option for type 2 diabetes, particularly for patients who are inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy or require combination therapy with other antidiabetic agents, due to its favorable safety profile and efficacy in improving glycemic control, as demonstrated in the most recent and highest quality study 1.
Key Points
- Imeglimin is a novel oral antidiabetic medication that represents the first in a new class called glimins, with a unique mechanism of action that targets the three main pathophysiologic components of type 2 diabetes: impaired glucose uptake by muscle tissue, excess hepatic gluconeogenesis, and increased β-cell apoptosis.
- The recommended dose of imeglimin is 1000 mg twice daily with meals for adults with type 2 diabetes, which can be used as monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic medications.
- Imeglimin has been shown to have a favorable safety profile with low risk of hypoglycemia and minimal gastrointestinal side effects compared to some other diabetes medications, as demonstrated in a 52-week, open-label, multicentre phase 3 trial 1.
- The most recent and highest quality study 1 demonstrated that imeglimin provides well-tolerated, long-term safety and efficacy in both monotherapy and oral combination therapy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, with a significant reduction in HbA1c levels and fasting plasma glucose.
Benefits and Risks
- Benefits: imeglimin has been shown to improve glycemic control, reduce insulin resistance, and increase insulin secretion, with a favorable safety profile and low risk of hypoglycemia.
- Risks: common side effects may include mild gastrointestinal disturbances, and the medication should be used with caution in those with severe renal impairment.
Clinical Use
- Imeglimin can be used as monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic medications, such as metformin, α-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, glinides, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, sulphonylureas, or thiazolidinediones.
- Patients should be aware of the potential side effects and monitoring requirements, and the medication should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.