Therapeutic Effects of Switching to Anagliptin from Other DPP-4 Inhibitors in T2DM Patients with Inadequate Glycemic Control: A Non-interventional, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Multicenter Observational Study

Introduction The effects of switching DPP-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are being widely studied. However, information of which factors affect the therapeutic response is limited. We evaluated the difference in HbA1c lowering effect by comorbidity and other variables after switching to anagliptin in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled by other DPP-4 inhibitors. Methods In a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, prospective observational study, patients with T2DM, HbA1c ≥ 7.0% who have taken DPP-4 inhibitors other than anagliptin, either alone or in combination (DPP-4 inhibitors + metformin/sulfonylurea (SU)/thiazolidinedione (TZD)/insulin), for at least 8 weeks were enrolled. After the switch to anagliptin, HbA1c and available clinical characteristics were determined. Results The change in HbA1c levels from baseline to week 12 and 24 was − 0.40% and − 0.42% in all patients. However, comparing the subgroups without and with comorbidities, the change in HbA1c levels at weeks 12 and 24 was − 0.68% and − 0.89% vs. − 0.27% and 0.22%, respectively. In addition, the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c < 7% from baseline to week 12 and 24 was increased to 70% and 70% vs. 20% and 24%, respectively. Duration of T2DM and different subtype classes of DPP-4 inhibitor did not significantly contribute to the change in HbA1c. Conclusion In patients with T2DM poorly controlled by other DPP-4 inhibitors, HbA1c levels were significantly decreased after switching to anagliptin. Given that the change in HbA1c was greater in patients without comorbidities than in patients with comorbidities, switching to anagliptin before adding other oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) may be an option in patients without comorbidities.