Differential pharmacology and clinical utility of empagliflozin in type 2 diabetes

With rates of obesity and diabetes rising across the world, effective therapies to treat hyperglycemia and its associated comorbidities continue to be in demand. Empagliflozin is a highly selective sodium glucose transporter-2 inhibitor that improves serum glucose levels by inducing glucosuria. Taken orally, it is rapidly absorbed with linear pharmacokinetics consistent in Asian and Caucasian populations. Empagliflozin treatment demonstrates consistent reductions in hemoglobin A1c, fasting plasma glucose, body weight, and blood pressure in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Improvements in glycemic control and metabolic end points are evident with empagliflozin monotherapy, as add-on to oral hypoglycemics or add-on to insulin. The nonglycemic effects of empagliflozin with consistent improvements in blood pressure, body weight, and waist circumference provide additional rationale for use in patients with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, treatment with empagliflozin has recently shown significant reductions in both microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes.