Our library of drug research abstracts drawn from the medical literature is updated on a regular schedule, and you can be assured that new glucovance research articles will be listed here shortly after becoming available to us.
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Medical research on glucovance
Impact of fixed-dose combination drugs on adherence to prescription medications.
J Gen Intern Med. 2008 May; 23(5): 611-4
Pan F, Chernew ME, Fendrick AM
BACKGROUND : The inverse correlation between the complexity of a drug regimen and medication adherence is well established. Fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapies are hypothesized to enhance compliance by decreasing the number of required pills. OBJECTIVE : The objective of the study is to compare adherence of a FDC [Glucovance, a FDC of metformin and glyburide] to a 2-pill regimen. DESIGN : Longitudinal data from a large claims database were used to assess adherence from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2001. Propensity scoring methods were used to mitigate concerns related to non-random assignment of patients to treatments. SUBJECTS : The subjects of the study were individuals prescribed metformin or sulfonylurea or both before July 2000, who were prescribed both metformin and sulfonylurea concurrently (either separately or FDC) after August 2000. MEASUREMENTS : Adherence was measured by medication possession ratio; the proportion of days on which a patient had medication available. RESULTS : The FDC enhanced adherence rates by approximately 13% when compared to a 2-pill regimen. CONCLUSIONS : Compared to 2-pill therapy, a FDC resulted in important increases in patient adherence. Economic analyses are warranted to determine whether the clinical benefits attributable to the adherence gains are worth the incremental cost of a FDC.
Effect of glyburide-metformin combination tablet in patients with type 2 diabetes.
J Chin Med Assoc. 2007 Nov; 70(11): 473-80
Chien HH, Chang CT, Chu NF, Hsieh SH, Huang YY, Lee IT, Lee WJ, Tang YJ, Sheu WH
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of glyburide/metformin combined tablet compared to glyburide or metformin alone in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In this 16-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, 4-arm and parallel clinical trial study, 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited and 76 patients were available for statistical analysis at the end of the study. After 1 week of placebo washout period, eligible patients were randomly assigned into 1 of 4 treatment groups: glyburide 5 mg b.i.d.; metformin 500 mg b.i.d.; glyburide/metformin 2.5 mg/500 mg b.i.d.; or glyburide/metformin 5.0 mg/500 mg b.i.d. The doses were titrated every 2 weeks to a maximum of 4 tablets per day if the patients fasting plasma glucose (FPG) still exceeded 140 mg/dL. Efficacy was evaluated by the changes from baseline in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and FPG at week 16. Adverse events were recorded and summarized by treatment group. RESULTS: At week 16, patients who received glyburide/metformin 2.5 mg/500 mg or 5.0 mg/500 mg tablets had greater reductions in FPG (all p
Heart. 2007 Mar; 93(3): 345-9
Schindler TH, Facta AD, Prior JO, Cadenas J, Hsueh WA, Quinones MJ, Schelbert HR
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of plasma glucose lowering on coronary circulatory function in type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Twenty patients with type 2 diabetes and 18 weight-matched controls were studied. At baseline, myocardial blood flow (MBF) was measured with [(13)N]ammonia and positron emission tomography at rest, during cold pressor testing (CPT), and during adenosine hyperaemia. In diabetic patients, MBF and blood chemistry were analysed again after 3 months of glucose-lowering treatment with glyburide and metformin. RESULTS: Although hyperaemic MBF did not differ significantly between the patients and controls (1.81 (0.38) v 1.97 (0.43) ml/min/g; mean (SD)), the CPT-induced MBF increase (DeltaMBF) was significantly less in diabetic patients than in controls (0.07 (0.07) v 0.25 (0.12) ml/min/g; p
Int J Clin Pract. 2006 Jul; 60(7): 783-90
Bruce S, Park JS, Fiedorek FT, Howlett HC
This exploratory double-blind, randomised, 20-week study evaluated the mechanism of action of metformin-glibenclamide combination tablets (Glucovance) vs. metformin and glibenclamide in 50 type 2 diabetes patients inadequately controlled by diet and exercise. A glycaemic target of HbA1C 7.0% was used. Final HbA(1C), fasting glucose and post-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose were similar between groups, although average doses of metformin and glibenclamide from combination tablets (708 and 3.5 mg) were lower than monotherapy doses (1500 and 6.6 mg). Second-phase insulin during a hyperglycaemic clamp increased by 93% with combination tablets, 36% with metformin and 46% with glibenclamide. The insulin response post-OGTT was more rapid with the combination tablets vs. glibenclamide. First-phase insulin responses improved modestly in all groups, possibly due to reduced glucotoxicity. Changes in insulin sensitivity were minor. Larger beta-cell responses between combination tablets and glibenclamide may reflect more rapid glibenclamide absorption.
Int J Clin Pract. 2006 Jun 2;
Bruce S, Park JS, Fiedorek FT, Howlett HC
This exploratory double-blind, randomised, 20-week study evaluated the mechanism of action of metformin-glibenclamide combination tablets (Glucovance((R))) vs. metformin and glibenclamide in 50 type 2 diabetes patients inadequately controlled by diet and exercise. A glycaemic target of HbA(1C) 7.0% was used. Final HbA(1C), fasting glucose and post-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose were similar between groups, although average doses of metformin and glibenclamide from combination tablets (708 and 3.5 mg) were lower than monotherapy doses (1500 and 6.6 mg). Second-phase insulin during a hyperglycaemic clamp increased by 93% with combination tablets, 36% with metformin and 46% with glibenclamide. The insulin response post-OGTT was more rapid with the combination tablets vs. glibenclamide. First-phase insulin responses improved modestly in all groups, possibly due to reduced glucotoxicity. Changes in insulin sensitivity were minor. Larger beta-cell responses between combination tablets and glibenclamide may reflect more rapid glibenclamide absorption.
[Recent oral antidiabetic therapy]
Rev Med Brux. 2005 Sep; 26(4): S235-40
Herbaut C
The improvement of the diabetic equilibrium decreases the microvascular complications. Unfortunately, the HbA1c has tendency to increase with time and too few type 2 diabetic patients are well equilibrated with HbA1c under 7%. We have now new medicaments to improve this. The thiazolidinediones are agonists of the PPARgamma and ameliorate the insulin resistance with decrease of the HbA1c. Pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) are the two thiazolidinediones in Belgium. To be reimbursed, these medicaments have to be prescribed with sulfonylureas or metformin. The glinides are secretagogues drugs acting on the post-prandial glycaemia, but they improve the three parameters of diabetic equilibrium: fasting glycaemia, postprandial glycaemia and HbA1c. There is only one in Belgium: repaglinide (Novonorm). We can also improve the treatment by increasing the compliance. Therefore we can prescribe treatment with once daily dosage so as glimepiride (Amarylle) or gliclazide MR (Unidiamicron). Finally there are 'fixed combinations of two molecules so as glibenclamide + metformin (Glucovance) or rosiglitazone + metformin (Avandamet).
Diabetes mellitus in a domesticated Spanish mustang.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2005 Feb 15; 226(4): 584-8, 542
Johnson PJ, Scotty NC, Wiedmeyer C, Messer NT, Kreeger JM
An 18-year-old Spanish Mustang mare was referred for evaluation of progressive weight loss and persistent hyperglycemia. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included marked hyperglycemia and glycosuria. Serum cortisol concentration was appropriately decreased following administration of dexamethasone, indicating that the horse did not have pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Serum insulin and plasma C-peptide concentrations were low, suggesting that hyperglycemia was a result of decreased secretion of insulin by pancreatic beta cells. In addition, glucose concentration did not return to the baseline concentration until 5 hours after i.v. administration of a glucose bolus, suggesting that insulin secretion, insulin effect, or both were reduced. However, i.v. administration of insulin caused only a slight decrease in the plasma glucose concentration, giving the impression that the action of insulin was impaired. Within 5 hours after administration of a combination of glyburide and metformin, which is used to treat diabetes mellitus in humans, the glucose concentration was within reference limits. The horse was euthanized, and a postmortem examination was done. Immunohistochemical staining of sections of the pancreas revealed attenuation of the pancreatic islet beta-cell population, with beta cells that remained generally limited to the periphery of the islets. These findings indicate that, albeit rare, pancreatic beta-cell failure may contribute to the development of diabetes mellitus in horses.
Drug Saf. 2004; 27(15): 1205-16
Davidson JA, Scheen AJ, Howlett HC
It is important to manage blood glucose intensively in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in order to reduce the risk of long-term complications. Oral combination therapy that addresses insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction is a proven means of improving glycaemic control when monotherapy becomes insufficiently effective. Metformin/glibenclamide (glyburide) combination tablets were developed to provide a means of applying this strategy while minimising polypharmacy. This review examines the tolerability profile of this treatment from four double-blind, randomised clinical trials in a total of 2342 type 2 diabetic patients with hyperglycaemia despite treatment with diet and exercise, a sulphonylurea or metformin. Treatment with combination tablets was associated with markedly superior blood glucose control, at lower doses of metformin and glibenclamide, compared with monotherapies. The incidence of symptoms of hypoglycaemia varied between dosages and trials, though the incidence of severe or biochemically confirmed hypoglycaemia or withdrawals from clinical trials for this reason was consistently low and comparable with glibenclamide alone. No patient required third-party assistance for hypoglycaemia. Significantly fewer diet-failed patients receiving low-dose combination tablets reported gastrointestinal adverse effects compared with metformin alone, with a comparable incidence between metformin and combination tablets in post-monotherapy studies. The incidence of other adverse events, including serious adverse events, was similar for combination tablets and monotherapies. The lower doses of metformin and glibenclamide with the combination tablet approach, and the design of the combination tablets themselves, may underlie the beneficial tolerability profile of this treatment.
Int J Clin Pract. 2004 Sep; 58(9): 820-6
Blonde L, Joyal S, Henry D, Howlett H
Oral anti-diabetic combinations that address insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction (e.g. metformin and glibenclamide) represent a rational therapeutic option for patients uncontrolled on monotherapy. A 52-week, open-label extension to a double-blind study evaluated metformin-glibenclamide combination tablets (Glucovance) in 477 patients with hyperglycaemia despite sulphonylurea therapy. Reductions in HbA1C were maintained, with a mean reduction of -1.7% after 52 weeks, compared with the baseline value for the double-blind trial. Eighty-five patients receiving 4 x 500 mg/2.5 mg tablets daily displayed a marked improvement in HbA1c following up-titration to a regimen of 2 x 500 mg/2.5 mg + 3 x 500 mg/5 mg tablets. Lipid profiles improved significantly. The combination tablets were well tolerated: 11.1% of patients reported hypoglycaemic symptoms (all either mild or moderate severity). No patient withdrew or required pharmacologic intervention for hypoglycaemia. Metformin-glibenclamide combination tablets are an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for intensifying oral anti-diabetic therapy.
Optimal glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: fasting and postprandial glucose in context.
Arch Intern Med. 2004 Mar 8; 164(5): 486-91
Abrahamson MJ
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the consequence of both insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. In the progression from normal glucose tolerance to diabetes, postprandial glucose (PPG) levels often rise before fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels increase above 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L). Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown that impaired glucose tolerance is associated with increased risk for macrovascular disease and that isolated postchallenge hyperglycemia is an independent factor for increased mortality. Reducing the risk for microvascular complications by improving glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels is well documented. Emerging data now support the relationship between glycemic control and macrovascular disease. Epidemiologic studies documenting postprandial hyperglycemia and the risk for increased mortality suggest that lowering PPG levels might be beneficial. Optimizing both FPG and PPG is important in achieving normal/near-normal glucose levels. Many patients with type 2 diabetes have difficulty attaining the recommended HbA(1c) goal despite normal/near-normal FPG levels; thus, pharmacologic treatment targeting PPG levels may prove beneficial.