Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly announced data from a pooled analysis of two phase IIb trials in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) for an investigational SGLT-2 inhibitor, Empagliflozin. The new analysis showed a reduction in systolic blood pressure with Empagliflozin, which, in the study, was independent of the reductions observed in blood glucose or weight.

The emerging SGLT-2 inhibitor class removes glucose through the urine by blocking glucose re-absorption in the kidney. Adverse events (AEs) at week 12 were experienced by 34.2% and 31.6% of patients who received Empagliflozin 10 mg and 25 mg, respectively, and by 34.6% who received placebo. The most commonly observed AEs included urinary tract and genital infections, generally categorized as mild, as seen in all clinical trials to date.

Merck ( known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) today announced Phase IIb data for MK-3102, the company’s investigational once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitor in development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. MK-3102 significantly lowered blood sugar in this 12-week study compared with placebo, with an incidence of symptomatic hypoglycemia that was similar to placebo, in patients with type 2 diabetes. These data were presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Berlin in October.

MK-3102 significantly reduced HbA1c compared to placebo (p<0.001) from a mean baseline of approximately 8 percent across all doses. In the full study population at 12 weeks, the placebo-adjusted reduction from baseline in HbA1c was 0.71 percent with MK-3102 25 mg; 0.67 percent with 10 mg; 0.49 percent with 3 mg; 0.50 percent with 1 mg; and 0.28 percent with 0.25 mg.