Diabetes Care, Vol 23, Issue 7 979-983, Copyright © 2000 by American Diabetes Association
Repaglinide/troglitazone combination therapy: improved glycemic control in type 2 diabetes
P Raskin, L Jovanovic, S Berger, S Schwartz, V Woo and R Ratner
University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, Dallas 75390, USA. praski@mednet.swmed.edu
OBJECTIVE: This multicenter open-label clinical trial compared the efficacy
and safety of repaglinide/troglitazone combination therapy, repaglinide
monotherapy, and troglitazone monotherapy in type 2 diabetes that had been
inadequately controlled by sulfonylureas, acarbose, or metformin alone.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 256) who
had inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c > or =7.0%) during previous
monotherapy were randomly assigned to receive repaglinide (0.5-4.0 mg at
meals), troglitazone (200-600 mg once daily), or a combination of
repaglinide (1-4 mg at meals) and troglitazone (200-600 mg once daily).
After a 4-6 week washout period, the trial assessed 22 weeks of treatment:
3 weeks (weeks 0-2) of forced titration, 11 weeks of fixed-dose treatment
(weeks 3-13), and 8 weeks (weeks 14-21) of titration to maximum dose.
Changes in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) values were measured.
RESULTS: The combination therapy showed a significant reduction in mean
HbA1c values (-1.7%) that was greater than with either type of monotherapy
Repaglinide monotherapy resulted in a reduction of HbA1c values that was
significantly greater than troglitazone (-0.8 vs. -0.4%) (P < 0.05).
Combination therapy was more effective in reducing FPG values (-80 mg/dl)
than either repaglinide (-43 mg/dl) or troglitazone (-46 mg/dl)
monotherapies. Adverse events were similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS:
Combination therapy with repaglinide and troglitazone leads to better
glycemic control than monotherapy with either agent alone. Repaglinide
monotherapy was more effective in lowering HbA1c levels than troglitazone
monotherapy Repaglinide/troglitazone combination therapy was effective and
did not show unexpected adverse events.