Incretin-based therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Asian patients: Analysis of clinical trials

Aim to review the efficacy and safety data on incretin-based therapies currently available (exenatide, liraglutide, sitagliptin, vildagliptin) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in asian population. methods we conducted medline search of all relevant randomized clinical trials of incretin-based therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus in asian populations. data pertinent to the efficacy and safety of glp-1 mimetics and dpp-4 inhibitors were extracted and used. results we found 14 randomized controlled trials of incretin based-therapy which included 3567 type 2 diabetes mellitus in asian population (japanese, chinese, korean, indian). it was shown that incretin-based therapies improved hba1c at higher extent (up to -1.42% in exenatide 10 mcg bid, -1.85% for liraglutide 0.9 mg qd, -1.4% for sitagliptin 100 mg and -1.4% for vildagliptin 50 mg bid) compared to the effects observed in studies with caucasian population, with comparable safety profile. conclusion the efficacy of incretin-based therapies in asian patients improved glycemic parameters in a higher magnitude on some glycemic parameters compared with those in caucasian population. these results indicate that incretin-based therapies may be more effective in asian population than in caucasian. (med j indones 2010; 19: 205-12)