Saxagliptin: a guide to its use in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Oral saxagliptin (Onglyza ® ), a potent, selective dipeptidyl pepitase-4 inhibitor, is a useful option to improve glycaemic control in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The efficacy of saxagliptin 2.5 or 5 mg once daily as initial therapy and add-on therapy to various baseline antihyperglycaemic agents has been demonstrated in a number of clinical trials in patients with type 2 diabetes, including those with renal impairment. Saxagliptin is generally well tolerated, does not increase the risk of hypoglycaemia or cardiovascular outcomes relative to placebo or active comparators, and is generally weight neutral.