Long-term efficacy and safety of linagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes and severe renal impairment: A 1-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE-This placebo-controlled study assessed long-term efficacy and safety of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes and severe renal impairment (RI). RESEARCHDESIGN AND METHODS-Inthis1-year,double-blind study,133 patients with type 2 diabetes (HbA_1c 7.0-10.0%) and severe RI (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <30 mL/min/1.73 m²) at screening were randomized to linagliptin 5 mg (n = 68) or placebo (n = 65) once daily, added to existing background therapy. The primary efficacy end point was HbA_1c change from baseline to week 12. Efficacy and safety end points were assessed after 1 year. RESULTS-At week 12, adjusted mean HbA_1c decreased by -0.76% with linagliptin and -0.15% with placebo (treatment difference, -0.60%; 95% CI -0.89 to -0.31; P < 0.0001). HbA_1c improvements were sustained with linagliptin (-0.71%) over placebo (0.01%) at 1 year (treatment difference -0.72%, 21.03 to -0.41; P < 0.0001). Mean insulin doses decreased by 26.2 units with linagliptin and -0.3 units with placebo. Overall adverse event incidence was similar over 1 year (94.1 vs. 92.3%). Incidence of severe hypoglycemia with linagliptin and placebo was comparably low (three patients per group). Linagliptin and placebo had little effect on renal function (median change in eGFR, -0.8 vs. -2.2 mL/min/1.73 m²), and no drug-related renal failure occurred. CONCLUSIONS-In patients with type 2 diabetes and severe RI, linagliptin provided clinically meaningful improvements in glycemic control with very low risk of severe hypoglycemia, stable body weight, and no cases of drug-related renal failure. The potential for linagliptin to spare insulin and provide long-term renal safety warrants further investigations.