On May 26, Handok Inc. announced the results of <Tenelia phase-3 combination therapy study> at the 61^st Japan Diabetes Association held in Tokyo, Japan.

The study was conducted on type-2 diabetes patients who did not reach their target blood glucose levels (less than 7.0% of HbA1c) after being prescribed metformin and glimepiride phase-2 combination therapy. The patients were additionally treated with20mg of teneligliptin or 100mg of citagliptin for 24 weeks and evaluated to determine efficacy and safety. No fewer than 25 research institutes in Korea conducted a total of 24 weeks of randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority, and active control of 201 type-2 diabetic patients.

The results of the study showed that the groups treated with teneligliptin (20mg) and citagliptin (100mg) showed equivalent blood glucose lowering effects. The mean HbA1c level of patients treated with teneligliptin (20mg) was 1.03% lower than the baseline of the patients treated with teneligliptin phase-3 combination therapy for 24 weeks with the mean HbA1c level decreased by 1.02% for those administered citagliptin.

In addition, the increase in the GLP-1 figure of the teneligliptin (20mg) group was 3.41pM (p value = 0.0408) higher than that of the citagliptin (100mg) group as a result of confirming the change of the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) figure. The GLP-1 figure in patients treated with teneligliptin phase-3 combination therapy for 24 weeks increased by 9.30pM, figures in patients treated with citriptyline phase-3 combination therapy increased 5.89pM. It was thus determined that DPP-4 inhibitors play a role in inhibiting the degradation of GLP-1, which promotes insulin secretion and reduces blood sugar. Elevated blood concentration of GLP-1 improves insulin secretion and helps lower blood sugar levels.

“This study confirms that teneligliptin has a blood glucose lowering effect equivalent to that of cytargulin (average HbA1c of 1.0% or more),” explained Yong Hyun Kim, Director of Diabetes Endocrinology at Bundang Disease Hospital. “Teneligliptin not only has a good blood sugar lowering effect but it also has the advantage of being able to be prescribed to all renal patients without the need for administration or dosage adjustments.”

On the other hand, Tenelia is a DPP-4 inhibitor that has recently been growing rapidly in popularity. Clinical studies have shown that 7 out of 10 patients with type-2 diabetes reached their target blood sugar levels and dose taken once daily continued to control their blood sugar levels until after dinner. Tenelia has the advantage of being able to be prescribed without any administration and dosage adjustment to all patients with renal impairment, and its particular structural properties and long-lasting potent DPP-4 inhibition effect with 24-hour half-life are its key characteristics.