New research suggests Glyburide (also known as glibenclamide) to be associated with an increased risk for cancer compared with other diabetes drugs of the sulfonylurea class. The findings from a population-based cohort study was published in Diabetes Care. Glyburide seems to trigger the production of reactive oxygen species, a well-known pro-oncogenic factor, and this activity appears specific to glyburide and not to other sulfonylureas.

The U.K. Clinical Practice Research Datalink was used to conduct a cohort study among 52,600 patients newly prescribed glyburide or other second-generation sulfonylureas between 1 January 1988 and 31 July 2013. The overall use of glyburide among 3413 patients was associated with a nonsignificant 9% increased risk of any cancer when compared with the use of other second-generation sulfonylureas. Secondary analyses revealed significant duration- and dose-response increased risks. In addition to cancer, this drug has also been associated with important cardiovascular events.

Read More