Initial Combination Therapy With Alogliptin and Pioglitazone in Drug-Naïve Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of alogliptin plus pioglitazone for initial combination therapy in drug-naïve type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This 26-week, double-blind, parallel-group study randomized 655 patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes to four arms: 25 mg alogliptin (A25) q.d. monotherapy, 30 mg pioglitazone (P30) q.d. monotherapy, or 12.5 (A12.5) or 25 mg alogliptin q.d. plus pioglitazone (P30) q.d. combination therapy. Primary efficacy was A1C change from baseline with the high-dose combination (A25 + P30) versus each monotherapy. RESULTS: Combination therapy with A25 + P30 resulted in greater reductions in A1C (−1.7 ± 0.1% from an 8.8% mean baseline) vs. A25 (−1.0 ± 0.1%, P < 0.001) or P30 (−1.2 ± 0.1%, P < 0.001) and in fasting plasma glucose (−2.8 ± 0.2 mmol/l) vs. A25 (−1.4 ± 0.2 mmol/l, P < 0.001) or P30 (−2.1 ± 0.2 mmol/l, P = 0.006). The A25 + P30 safety profile was consistent with those of its component monotherapies. CONCLUSIONS: Alogliptin plus pioglitazone combination treatment appears to be an efficacious initial therapeutic option for type 2 diabetes.